On Monday, February 23, the Orioles will hold the 5th Annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic at The Founders Club to benefit the Miracle League of Manasota, an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for every person to play baseball, regardless of their ability. The event begins with registration and lunch at 11:00 a.m., with a shotgun start set for 12:30 p.m. The registration deadline for this year's event is this Sunday, February 8. The classic will feature a silent auction...

Did FanFest fulfill your baseball needs for the remainder of the offseason? No? Yeah, me either. To entertain you before spring training officially begins, watch two "Orioles Classics" on MASN HD this week. Here's what's on deck: Wednesday, Feb. 4, midnight, 12:30 p.m.: Can't sleep? Watch the first game played at Oriole Park at Camden Yards! The home of the Orioles opened its doors for its first official game on April 6, 1992. The Orioles beat the Indians 2-0 to officially christen...

With football officially behind us until August, our eyes are now focused solely on baseball. That's right, Nationals pitchers and catcher officially report to Viera, Fla., in 16 days. While we patiently await the report date, catch two "Nationals Classics" this week on MASN HD. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.: On the last day of the 2014 regular season, Jordan Zimmermann pitched the first no-hitter in Nationals history. Zimmermann issued just one walk and outfielder Steven Souza Jr. kept...

Palm Beach County commissioners voted 6-1 this morning to OK a land swap with the City of West Palm Beach and the conceptual plan for a new spring training complex in West Palm Beach that would be shared by the Astros and Nationals. The move means the teams will move a step closer to building a new spring training facility on 160 acres at the southeast corner of Haverhill Road and 45th Street on the site of a former landfill. In exchange for the city-owned parcel, West Palm Beach will receive...

A few weeks ago, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo left some questioning his decision to trade reliever Tyler Clippard to Oakland for infielder Yunel Escobar. It seemed as though Rizzo was prepared to go with his young arms in the bullpen, especially after trading Ross Detwiler to Texas and allowing Rafael Soriano to leave as a free agent. But last Wednesday, Rizzo responded to the doubters by signing veteran late-inning reliever Casey Janssen. The deal, which guarantees Janssen $5 million...

Over the past few days, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has singled out Logan Verrett when discussing the Rule 5 pitchers who will report to spring training later this month. Nothing against Jason Garcia. Duquette has tossed praise his way, as well. But he's been bringing up Verrett's name first, including last night on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan after I asked about the probability that at least one of the right-handers will make the club. Verrett, 24, is the more...

While there has been a lot of focus on what the Orioles have lost since the 2014 season ended, their starting rotation is intact. In fact, they have six starters for five spots heading into spring training. The Orioles rotation was good last season. It should be again and good pitching keeps you in games. The Orioles ranked fifth in the American League and were second among AL East teams with a 3.61 rotation ERA in 2014. How do they fare in the rotation against the rest of the East right...

New England has won another Super Bowl. The calendar says February and pitchers and catchers report to spring training camps mid-February. So where does pitcher James Shields, 33, the ace of the American League champion Kansas City Royals, wind up? It's a head-scratcher. No one knows. Did he turn down a $100 million contract? Now, can he be had for $70 million? Or will Shields sign a one-year deal, a la Ervin Santana a year ago, and try the free agent market next time? Who wouldn't want a...

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals roster for 2015 has not been officially announced, but there is a very good chance that a lot of the top players from low Single-A Hagerstown will move up as they do each season. Pitchers Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito and center fielder Rafael Bautista are likely to be alongside players such as infielders Drew Ward and Wilmer Difo, and catcher Spencer Kieboom. The Suns put up gaudy offensive numbers and featured a pitching staff that stopped opponents...

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Casey Janssen on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2016 on Monday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Janssen, 33, joins the Nationals after 10 years in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, including five consecutive Major League seasons with an ERA of 3.95 or lower. "We are happy to add Casey Janssen to our stable of relief arms," Rizzo said. "We're excited...