The ability and potential that Sammy Solis possesses are clear. A 6-foot-5, 250-lb. left-hander who was a second-round pick out of the University of San Diego in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Solis has been highly ranked on various lists of the top prospects in the Nationals organization since being drafted. The question now is whether Solis, 26, can stay healthy long enough to showcase the talent that has led scouts to believe he could one day be a middle to top-of-the-rotation big league...

Two years ago, the Orioles signed veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson to a minor league deal after he threw at Camden Yards during their minicamp. He spent the entire season at Triple-A Norfolk. Hendrickson will take another shot at it next week. He's been invited to attend the minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, where he will throw for manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. Hendrickson, 40, hasn't pitched in the majors since making...

In a recent post, I took a look at the Orioles' solid pitching rotation and how some of the hurlers fared during the 2014 season. Today, here are some notes and stats looking back on some of the key Orioles position players from 2014. Chris Davis: While he hit nearly 100 points lower in 2014 (.196 after .286 in 2013), Davis hit under .200 against both left- (.188) and right-handed pitching (.199). He also hit under .200 both before (.199) and after (.189) the All-Star break. Davis hit two...

Orioles Hall of Fame member Stu Miller passed away Sunday, January 4, at his home in Cameron Park, Calif., after a brief illness. He was 87. Miller, a right-handed reliever throughout most of his 16 seasons in the major leagues, led the Orioles in saves from 1963-67 and was a member of the 1966 World Series Championship team. In his five seasons with the Orioles, Miller compiled a 38-36 record with a 2.37 ERA and 100 saves, leading the American League with 71 appearances and 27 saves in 1963,...

The Nationals' long search for a new, permanent spring training home moved a step closer to a positive resolution on Monday. The city of West Palm Beach, Fla., has agreed to begin negotiations on a swap 160 acres of land at 45th Street and Haverhill Road to Palm Beach County for 1.8 acres of county-owned land in West Palm Beach. That transaction, if completed, could lead to the construction of a two-team spring training facility that would be shared by the Nationals and Houston Astros. "If an...

Third baseman Manny Machado, recovering from surgery on his right knee, will be in Sarasota on the final day of the Orioles' minicamp on Jan. 14 to allow manager Buck Showalter and various staff and medical personnel to check his health and watch him work out. Machado had surgery on Aug. 27 to repair a partially torn ligament. He underwent a similar procedure on his left knee in 2013. The Orioles expect Machado to be ready for opening day. He's been working out in Sarasota, but he took time...

The overall numbers posted by Jerry Blevins during the 2014 season probably aren't to the 31-year-old left-hander's liking. After back-to-back seasons of posting an ERA at or below 3.15 and a WHIP under 1.075, Blevins saw his numbers inflated in 2014, as he pitched to a 4.87 ERA and 1.238 WHIP in 64 games spanning 57 1/3 innings. He did have some impressive peripheral numbers, however, seeing his home runs per nine innings get cut in half from where it stood the prior two seasons, and seeing...

The Orioles still want to add a left-handed hitting outfielder, reliever and catcher before opening day on April 6. Their shopping list is written out clearly. No smudges. What remains unclear to me is who's going to bat first in the lineup. Nick Markakis is gone, having signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves. He was the Orioles' leadoff hitter in 148 games last season. Now what? I never received a clear answer when I asked executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager...

Checking in on a few Orioles and baseball topics this morning: Hank Peters' passing: The Orioles lost a treasured family member and team Hall of Famer Sunday when former general manager Hank Peters died Sunday morning. The O's GM from 1975-87, Peters built the Orioles' last World Series-winning team in 1983. A few times over the years, I had a chance to meet Mr. Peters and found him to be every bit the gentleman everyone said he was. What a polite and nice man, who managed to stay that way...

"I am saddened to learn of the passing of Hank Peters, and on behalf of the Orioles organization, I extend my condolences to his daughter Sharon, his son Steve, and his entire family. Hank was highly regarded throughout baseball as a man of integrity and great character. He was an integral part of the Orioles' winning tradition, including 10 consecutive winning seasons from 1976 to 1985 and the club's third World Series championship in 1983. His impact was felt by multiple organizations...