JUPITER, Fla. - Throughout spring training, the Nationals have been operating as if Anthony Rendon will be their starting second baseman. Rendon got the bulk of the reps at second base early in spring, while Danny Espinosa was often fielding grounders at short, working behind Ian Desmond. This will be Espinosa's 15th game played this spring, and in those 15, he's started at shortstop seven times (including today), second base six times, DH once and came off the bench to play short once....

Minor league camp continues to roll along with decisions coming up very soon on final rosters of Nationals affiliates. The week of March 31-April 5 will be the timeframe that rosters will be finalized and announced. Here is a quick look at how some of the prospects are faring as camp winds down with updates courtesy of new Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson. Last season, Anderson guided the Rookie level Gulf Coast Nationals to an unprecedented 52-9 record and the GCL...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Third baseman Manny Machado flew back into Sarasota late last night and has been excused from camp this morning. Machado no longer has any physical restrictions after Dr. Neal ElAttrache re-examined his left knee yesterday in Los Angeles. However, the Orioles still haven't provided a firm date for his spring debut. "I have to talk to the ESPN people to find out what the next step is," manager Buck Showalter quipped. Reliever Luis Ayala is taking the rest of his physical...

The Orioles today announced dates for two "Operation Orange" rallies to generate fan excitement as the team prepares to open the 2014 season. The rallies will include ticket giveaways, trivia and raffles for Orioles-themed gear and other promotional items. The first "Operation Orange" rally will be held at Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant on Wednesday, March 26 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Operation Orange rally crew, the Oriole Bird, Orioles PA Announcer Ryan Wagner and former Orioles...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Alex Gonzalez is back in the Orioles' lineup today as the third baseman, and he intends to get as many at-bats as possible while competing for a utility job. Gonzalez was shut down briefly and underwent an endoscopy after his pre-spring training physical revealed something in his blood work that drew the concerns of the Orioles' medical staff. Gonzalez, a 15-year major league veteran, discovered that he's anemic and is taking iron pills. "Everything's fine,"...

JUPITER, Fla. - After getting quite a pitching matchup yesterday in Viera between Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, we'll get another stellar couple of starters taking the mound today here in Jupiter. Gio Gonzalez will get the ball for the Nationals, and Adam Wainwright will make his fourth start of spring for the Cardinals. Gonzalez seemed to make every single one of his spring starts last year here in Jupiter, which became a running joke among reporters and the left-hander. So here he...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Luis Ayala arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning, and an announcement of his minor league deal with the Orioles should be coming later today. There's no word on whether Ayala has been offered an invitation to spring training. I was told yesterday that he'd report to Twin Lakes Park. Stay tuned. The Orioles found a new opponent today. They're playing the Braves, who are sending a split squad to Sarasota. Third baseman Chris Johnson made the trip....

VIERA, Fla. - Let's assume, for the sake of this discussion, that the Nationals end up going with a seven-man bullpen and a five-man bench come opening day. Let's also assume, for the sake of this discussion, that Danny Espinosa has locked up a roster spot as a reserve infielder and that Doug Fister will be stretched out enough to open the season in the Nats' rotation. (More on that last part in a minute.) If that all is the case, then what we're currently looking at, barring any...

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's the Florida edition of our popular mailbag sequel, which means it's tanned, doesn't drain after a heavy rain and thinks the fast lane is only for cars going 25 mph or 125 mph. It also writes checks at the grocery store and becomes confused during elections. You've got questions. I've got answers. You've got the same questions. I've got the same sarcasm. Here we go. Do you think Michael Almanzar can make the club? It's going to be tricky unless the Orioles can...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland allowed a run in the eighth inning tonight and faced three former Orioles in a row in the ninth - Omar Santos, Robert Andino and Travis Ishikawa. A fourth, Chris Dickerson, stood on deck. Dickerson never made it to the plate. Ishikawa grounded to McFarland, and the Orioles defeated the Pirates, 4-2, at McKechnie Field. Manager Buck Showalter thought starter Bud Norris was "good" tonight. "Threw a lot more changeups, around 10 or 12. Got about...