SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles just concluded their second workout and are heading into the clubhouse. Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia and Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Mike Wright were especially impressive today during their bullpen sessions. Outfielder Alejandro De Aza, who lost his arbitration hearing, is expected to report later today. He wants to get comfortable in a new spring training facility. The Orioles are still hoping to finalize their deal next week with infielder Everth Cabrera. The legal...

VIERA, Fla. - At 10:39 a.m. this morning, a few seconds before the horn signaling the first drill of Nationals spring training sounded, right-hander Max Scherzer uncorked a throw toward catcher Wilson Ramos in the area where the first bullpen sessions were convening. Spring training 2015 was under way. It was cloudy and cool at the Space Coast Stadium complex the Nationals call home. Players made the short hike from the clubhouse to the practice fields a little more briskly than usual, owing to...

VIERA, Fla. - There were times this offseason when Jordan Zimmermann couldn't help but wonder if his career in Washington, D.C., was over. Try as he might to stick to his usual winter routines, there were constant reminders that he was entering his walk year, that his pending free agency might result in the Nationals dealing him if they were unable or unwilling to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension Zimmermann returned to his native Wisconsin and tried to immerse himself in...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have 14 pitchers throwing in the bullpen today, six more than yesterday. Dane De La Rosa, Brian Matusz and Wesley Wright are in Group 1, Oliver Drake, Steve Johnson and Chaz Roe are in Group 2, Chris Jones, Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright are in Group 3, Tim Berry, Eddie Gamboa and Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia are in Group 4, and Hunter Harvey and Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett are in Group 5. Ubaldo Jimenez used a more compact delivery during yesterday's session, the same...

The Washington Nationals exercised the 2016 club option on manager Matt Williams' contract on Saturday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. "We are happy to pick up Matt's option for the 2016 season," Rizzo said. "It shows the great confidence we have in Matt to continue to lead this team on the field. During his rookie season, he helped us navigate through injuries and led us to our second NL East Division title in three years. His...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals announced this morning that they have picked up the team option for 2016 on manager Matt Williams' contract. It was a pretty good first year for Williams, who made his major league managerial debut with the Nats in 2014. The best record in the National League (96-66) and a runaway NL East title helped Wiliams to earn recognition as the NL Manager of the Year. "We are happy to pick up Matt's option for the 2016 season," general manager Mike Rizzo said in a...

VIERA, Fla. - Max Scherzer arrived for his first official day of work with the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium on Friday. After a mandatory physical and some clubhouse introductions, the $210 million man met the media for the first time since he was introduced at Nationals Park on Jan. 21. "Just to be able to be a part of this organization, it's been great so far," said Scherzer. "They've treated me so well so far. It also helps having a few faces around here that I know as well. I played...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are back on their normal schedule today with physicals no longer eating up valuable hours in the morning. They won't be taking the field at noon for the pre-workout stretch. We'll find out whether outfielder Alejandro De Aza won his arbitration hearing and will be paid $5.65 million this season or if he must settle for $5 million. He made $4.25 million last season. It's not the sexiest competition in camp, but the Orioles must settle on a backup to catcher Matt...

Last spring training, baseball was dealing with the new instant replay rules and the catcher/runner collisions at home plate. This spring training, baseball is emphasizing speed-up rules. The average time of game was 3 hours, 4 minutes last year. Major League Baseball would like to see that fall to 2:45. In the 1980s, the average time of game was 2:33. A 20-second pitch clock that was set up in the Arizona Fall League, and will be used in Double-A and Triple-A leagues this season, is not part...

As the opening of a new baseball season gets closer by the day, the end of prospects ranking season is just about here. At a time when many publications produce their top 100 prospects list, the Baseball America list is still the granddaddy of them all - and still very respected. Published for the first time in 1990 when Steve Avery was the No. 1 prospect in the sport, Baseball America's 25th anniversary list was released Thursday night, with the top 50 presented during a live telecast on MLB...