SARASOTA, Fla. - As expected, most of the Orioles regulars will stay at Ed Smith Stadium for today's split-squad game against the Red Sox. David Lough, Ryan Flaherty and Nolan Reimold must be on the trip to Fort Myers for the 7:05 p.m. game, since they're not listed on the home lineup card. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz LF Delmon Young DH Matt Wieters C Alex Gonzalez 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Bud Norris RHP Other available pitchers...

Once you have given up three draft choices, what is one more? Once you have signed one Santana, why not two? A match between the Orioles and right-hander Ervin Santana might be made in free agent heaven. The big news that came out last night was that Santana now wants to sign a one-year contract for just 2014 and he wants to get it done quickly. It was also reported that he wants to play for a team with a good offense. What pitcher doesn't, right? Well, Ervin, the O's offense was fourth in...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing the Red Sox today. Twice. Welcome to split-squad city. The Orioles host a 1:05 p.m. game that will air on MASN HD, and head to Fort Myers for a 7:05 p.m. game. Bud Norris will handle home starting duties and Kevin Gausman will take the bus to JetBlue Park. I'd expect most of the regulars to stay at Ed Smith Stadium. Ryan Flaherty doesn't know where he'll play, and that includes his position. In the early days of spring training, Orioles manager...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' first split-squad games of spring are today, meaning they'll send a couple buses of players to Jupiter to face the Cardinals and leave most of their regulars back home to take on the Braves at Space Coast Stadium. Anthony Rendon is the only 2013 regular making the trip to Jupiter, along with Nate McLouth, Scott Hairston, Tyler Moore and Jamey Carroll. Bench coach Randy Knorr will manage the Nats in Jupiter, in a game started by Chris Young. As I mentioned...

VIERA, Fla. - Matt Williams met with reporters following today's 8-5 win over Houston and addressed a smattering of topics. I'm here to provide you with those responses. Williams said that he plans to make his first round of roster cuts on Sunday morning, following tomorrow's split-squad games, assuming there are no issues that cause the Nationals to adjust that schedule. If a few guys end up coming down with some kind of ailment tomorrow, limiting the number of healthy bodies in camp, the...

VIERA, Fla. - Wilson Ramos' first home run of spring was absolutely crushed. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that it might have rolled onto Stadium Parkway, which is well beyond the left field fence here at Space Coast Stadium. The Nationals beat the Astros 8-5 this afternoon, and Ramos' homer - which traveled over the left field wall, over the World of Beer deck and over the hill just in front of a row of trees - was the talk of the team during and after the game. "I couldn't even...

I got an update on a handful of pitchers that are continuing their work at the Nationals accelerated development program in Viera, Fla. New low Single-A Hagerstown Suns pitching coach Sam Narron, who was the pitching coach for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays last season, updated the current progress of three starting pitchers he worked with: right-handers 19-year-old Lucas Giolito, 23-year-old Jake Johansen and 21-year-old Austin Voth (Voth sounds like "both"). "Voth, Giolito...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 15, Phillies 4 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez dazzled in his debut, retiring all six batters and striking out three. Nick Markakis singled, doubled twice and tripled to finish 4-for-4. The Orioles pounded A.J. Burnett for six runs and seven hits in three innings. Maybe a little payback to the Monkton resident. Need to know: David Lough was hit on the foot during an outfield drill a few days ago and scratched from the trip to Fort Myers. X-rays were negative. He was...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned left-hander Mike Belfiore to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned right-hander Tim Alderson and left-hander Nick Additon to minor league camp. With these assignments, the Orioles now have 59 players at major league spring training, including 19 non-roster invitees.

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Astros 5 Recap: The Nats put up a six-spot in the first inning thanks mostly to a two-run shot by Bryce Harper and a three-run bomb off the bat of Wilson Ramos that launched into orbit. Zach Walters' two-run single added some cushion in the late innings after Houston had trimmed the Nats' lead to one. Need to know: Tanner Roark looked solid in 2 2/3 innings, Rafael Soriano allowed two runs in his spring debut and Jerry Blevins kept a spotless...