VIERA, Fla. - All position players are due to report for Nationals spring training today. As of Monday evening, outfielders Jayson Werth and Mike Carp, and infielders Wilmer Difo and Yunel Escobar were the only players who had not yet appeared at Space Coast Stadium. Much of the focus will be on Escobar when he trots out to his new second base position on Thursday, the first day of full-squad workouts. The Nationals traded Tyler Clippard, one of baseball's most reliable relievers, in order to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The last few Orioles position players are due to report today, and they should be joined by infielder Everth Cabrera, who was headed to Sarasota last night. We may never run out of players to interview. Cabrera might not be made available to the media before the deal becomes official, but we're getting real close. The Orioles already know that Cabrera can play shortstop and they assume that he can make a smooth transition to second base. They also will put him in the outfield...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera has moved another step closer to completing his deal with the Orioles, as he's on his way to Sarasota, according to an industry source. He should arrive in camp on Tuesday when position players are due to report. The Orioles and Cabrera reached agreement on a one-year, $2.4 million contract on Wednesday, and the free agent shortstop also took his physical last week. CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman reported the deal includes $600,000 in incentives. Cabrera made...

Checking in on a few topics around the baseball world: * So should we be surprised when the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees flex their financial muscles? Not at all. The Red Sox are going to spend a total of $246 million on three players they've acquired since last season ended. That was a season that the Red Sox finished in last place at 71-91 and 25 games behind the Orioles. But Boston has added Pablo Sandoval on a four-year deal worth $88 million, Hanley Ramirez on a five-year deal for...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and others today have disputed recent remarks made by former catcher Gregg Zaun that detailed alleged rookie hazing in the Orioles clubhouse. And Zaun is backing off those claims, which upset some of his ex-teammates who insist that the stories were greatly exaggerated or fabricated. Zaun said today that accusations he made on a Toronto radio station last week of harsh treatment supposedly led by Ripken actually was nothing more than "a little...

VIERA, Fla. - No player has been in the Nationals organization longer than Ian Desmond, who was selected by the Expos in the third round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. But Desmond's tenure as Nats shortstop is threatened by his looming free agency at the end of this season. Desmond spent this offseason in the vulnerable position of hearing his name floated in trade rumors. That speculation intensified after Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo acquired infielder Yunel Escobar from...

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman has traded his third baseman's glove for a first baseman's mitt - and last season's crash course at a new position for more intensive hands-on instruction. Though Nationals position players aren't required to be in camp until tomorrow, Zimmerman arrived at Space Coast Stadium just before 8 a.m. this morning. About 90 minutes later, even before pitchers and catchers headed over to their scheduled workouts, Zimmerman trotted out to first base to reacquaint himself...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The X-rays on pitcher Steve Johnson's right middle finger today came back clean. It's just a bruise and he's day-to-day like the rest of us. Johnson can resume throwing once the discomfort subsides. Today's workout was cut short, ending at 11 a.m., so the Orioles could play in the annual charity golf tournament. Bullpen sessions were thrown by Dane De La Rosa, Brian Matusz and Wesley Wright in Group 1, Oliver Drake and Chaz Roe in Group 2, Tim Berry, Eddie Gamboa and...

The Nationals have long been a team that loves to stack tall imposing starting pitching that comes down off the mound with a delivery that intimidates would be batters. The 6-foot-6 Lucas Giolito fits into that category. The trajectory of his fastball, coupled with his daunting frame, makes it difficult for hitters to see the ball come from 9-to-6 or 12-to-6 toward the plate. His teammate last season, 6-foot right-handed starter Reynaldo Lopez, came on strong when called up from short-season...

The Nationals and Orioles are basically the same teams as last season, minus a few key players. Here's a look at players that helped the two local nines win division championships last season and how they fit into the plans of their new teams: * Nick Markakis - Signing Markakis to a $44 million contract is a good deal for a contending team that wants to add an experienced left-handed bat. But the Braves aren't that anymore. They were a weak offensive team last season and they traded their...