NEW YORK - The Nationals may have set their 25-man roster for opening day, but the club continues to tinker with its organizational depth chart. The Nats announced Sunday that veteran left-hander Aaron Laffey has been signed to a minor league deal. The 28-year-old native of Cumberland, Md., has a 25-29 record and 4.45 ERA in 153 career games (68 starts) with the Indians, Mariners, Yankees, Blue Jays and Mets. Last season, he worked to a 7.11 ERA in five major league games, and went 6-8 with a...

There's a good reason that Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith has teamed up with Anheuser-Busch this spring in an effort to make baseball's opening day a national holiday: It's got about everything a fan of the greatest game could want. The hope of a new season is upon us, seamheads. Even though three regular season games are already in the books, including two that were played in Australia, today is the real start of the Major League Baseball season. Dreams of high batting averages, low ERAs and a...

Nick Markakis has started in right field for the Orioles on seven consecutive opening days. Whether he makes it eight in a row is up in the air. That's also where Markakis developed neck stiffness, while on a flight yesterday from Sarasota to Norfolk. "Still a little sore," said manager Buck Showalter. "Hopefully, it will get better. I've got two lineups, one with him in it and one without him in it. There's some thought about letting him get the benefit of another day with it, but I...

On the eve of another opening day start for the Nationals, you can see the difference in Stephen Strasburg. He appears more poised, more confident. He talks with an assuredness and calmness of a Tom Glavine or Mike Mussina. Strasburg has battled expectations, a major injury, a great season for the team when he had to be shut down, and then another season when the team and his play did not meet their early hopes. Now in his fifth year with the club, Strasburg's speech and demeanor...

The Orioles finalized their roster this afternoon and created two openings on the 40-man roster for reliever Evan Meek and outfielder Delmon Young. Left-hander Mike Belfiore was designated for assignment and pitcher Edgmer Escalona was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Belfiore allowed one run and five hits in two innings with the Orioles last season and went 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 37 games at Triple-A Norfolk. Escalona made one appearance in an exhibition game this spring before being...

The Orioles today announced several roster moves to finalize their 25-man roster. Four players have been placed on the 15-day disabled list: infielder Michael Almanzar (retroactive to March 23 - left patellar tendinitis), infielder Manny Machado (retroactive to March 21 - recovering from left knee surgery), outfielder Francisco Peguero (retroactive to March 21 - right wrist tendinitis), and outfielder Noman Reimold (retroactive to March 26 - cervical spine fusion surgery). Additionally,...

The Orioles are working out indoors today because of the rain. They haven't posted a lineup due to the uncertain status of right fielder Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup in Norfolk with neck stiffness. Markakis received treatment again today and told me that his neck is "much better than yesterday." Asked about playing on opening day, he replied, "I don't know." Neither does manager Buck Showalter, who's written two lineups for Monday - one with Markakis and...

They are two young players who got their first tastes of big league baseball during the 2013 season. Going into spring training, it looked like one had a better chance to make the Orioles' opening day roster than the other. Kevin Gausman looked like he could emerge from camp in Florida pitching in the O's rotation and Jonathan Schoop looked like a player likely to begin the season at Triple-A. But as it turned out, Schoop will run down the orange carpet tomorrow while Gausman will begin...

NEW YORK - Adam LaRoche's 2013 struggles have been well-documented. Struggles when it comes to his offensive performance. Struggles when it comes to keeping weight on his frame. The good news for both LaRoche and the Nationals is that on the eve of the 2014 season, the 34-year-old first baseman feels good. He feels good at the plate after a strong spring training. He feels good health-wise. And he feels ready to be a big part of what many people feel will be a strong offensive ball...

I'm heading to Camden Yards this morning for the workout that precedes opening day. Don't try to stop me. The weather may force the Orioles indoors for batting practice. As long as the clubhouse still has a roof over it, the media will be perfectly fine. I'll check on Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup due to neck stiffness. I'll check on Nelson Cruz, who took an Alex Cobb curveball off his batting helmet during Thursday's game against the Rays. I'll check on...