SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't ready to declare a winner in the battle for the backup catching job. He did, however, point out the obvious. Steve Clevenger is the current leader inside the clubhouse after the Orioles optioned Johnny Monell to Triple-A Norfolk. "Stevie's presented himself well," Showalter said. "We'll see what happens between now and the end of spring, what other options present themselves. Caleb (Joseph) has had a good spring, but I'd categorize...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned catcher Johnny Monell and right-hander Suk-min Yoon to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles also reassigned outfielder Xavier Paul to minor league camp. With the assignment, the Orioles now have 43 players at major league spring training, including eight non-roster invitees.

SARASOTA, Fla. - There's no longer any doubt that Steve Clevenger is the leading in-house candidate to back up catcher Matt Wieters. The Orioles optioned catcher Johnny Monell following today's 7-4 loss to the Rays. They also reassigned outfielder Xavier Paul to minor league camp and will make one more roster move. Clevenger hasn't won the job at this point in camp. The Orioles continue to check outside the organization. Left fielder David Lough passed his impact test and manager Buck...

VIERA, Fla. - Ross Detwiler surely didn't envision getting moved into a relief role this spring, but that's now where he finds himself. The Nationals left-hander learned on Monday that instead of continuing his battle for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, manager Matt Williams had decided to move him to the bullpen, this after he had been a member of the team's starting rotation for the bulk of 2012 and all of last year up until being sidelined by injury. Detwiler is scheduled to work one...

The Nationals have announced they will conduct batting practice for their March 29 exhibition game at Nats Park across town that morning at their new Youth Baseball Academy in Fort Dupont Park. Later that day, the Nationals and Tigers conclude their spring schedules in Washington at a 2 p.m. exhibition. The batting practice will be preceded by a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving special guests, including Nationals players and executives, local and federal government leaders, and the academy's...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Rays 7, Orioles 4 Recap: Wei-Yin Chen didn't make it out of the fourth inning today, allowing six runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 frames. The Rays collected five doubles and homered twice off him. On the plus side, Chen didn't walk anybody. Suk-min Yoon served up a home run to Jayson Nix, but retired six of seven batters in his second appearance with the Orioles. Chris Davis singled in the first inning for his team-leading ninth RBI. Need to know: Adam Jones was...

VIERA, Fla. - Veteran reliever Luis Ayala asked for and was granted his unconditional release by the Nationals today, this after the team informed him that he was being cut. Ayala plans to try and land a big league job with another organization. The 36-year-old right-hander signed a minor league deal with the Nationals on February 7, in hopes of winning a spot in the Nats' opening day bullpen. Ayala made six spring appearances with the Nats and was shelled in two of them, although one of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Darren O'Day is throwing two innings today at Twin Lakes Park. Grant Balfour is facing the Orioles today - in a minor league game. Do they have brushback pitches at the Charlotte Sports complex? Bud Norris starts Thursday night's game against the Pirates in Bradenton. Steve Johnson, T.J. McFarland and Alfredo Aceves also are scheduled to pitch. Chris Tillman faces the Braves on Friday in Sarasota, and Ubaldo Jimenez faces the Rays on Saturday in Port...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Johnny Monell looks at this spring training as a fresh start. He spent seven seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization until the Orioles acquired him for cash on Nov. 30. Soon he will find if his destination will be Baltimore or Norfolk come opening day. "Oh, it's a beautiful fresh start for me," Monell said this morning. "Just being able to get away from the situation in San Francisco and have the chance to come to the American League. Want to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder David Lough is taking an impact test now as the final step in being cleared to play Thursday in a Triple-A game. Lough had been experiencing dizziness and eye floaters that may have been related to neck stiffness. He said the symptoms occurred after he was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run March 8 in Fort Myers. "They cleared me to go for activity and stuff, so I feel pretty good about it, getting back on the right...