SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Henry Urrutia didn't work out today because of a stomach illness. Urrutia was late getting on the field, missing the pre-workout stretch. First base coach Wayne Kirby retrieved him from the clubhouse as the outfielders played catch. Urrutia stood on the field for a few minutes before talking to head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and going inside. Kirby passed along an update to manager Buck Showalter. Suk-min Yoon threw on flat ground and participated in...

VIERA, Fla. - There was a new addition to the Nationals clubhouse this morning - a picture of pitching coach Steve McCatty was hanging up next to Gio Gonzalez's locker. In the photo, which looks like it was taken in sneak-attack fashion, McCatty is sitting at his locker in the coaches' dressing room with a surprised/confused look on his face and a bag of ice taped to his knee. "He's a pretty fantastic man, isn't he?" Gonzalez said, smiling, as he looked up at the picture with reporters...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar is at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles have a full camp roster. Players are finishing up their physicals this morning, undergoing eye and dental exams, and the first full-squad workout may not begin before noon. The Orioles may announce their agreement with Ubaldo Jimenez later today, after his physical is complete, but they aren't expected to hold a news conference before Thursday. Ubaldo's locker is next to Suk-min Yoon, who will...

MASNsports.com has obtained an advance copy of the accelerated development program roster for the Nationals. It is a collection of top prospects in the system all in one place for intense, hands-on instruction during spring training. If you don't see a big name below, they are most likely in the major league camp. Players report to Viera, Fla., and begin camp on Friday, Feb. 21. Right-handed Pitchers (unless otherwise noted LHP = left-handed pitcher) (23): Dakota Bacus John Costa Matt...

VIERA, Fla. - I've now been in Florida for a week, and already I'm at the point where I'm falling asleep at 9:45 p.m. That might be the norm for some people, but I'm typically a guy who can't shut it down for the night until at least 1 a.m., if not later. Every year, without fail, this is an assignment that turns me into a grandpa when it comes to my bedtime. Ryan Zimmerman will be an interesting guy to watch this spring on a couple of different levels. First, there's the wholestory...

I wrote about this some yesterday, but it is a valid concern with right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. That is, his high pitch counts, as he averaged 17.3 pitches per inning last season, which was among the highest in baseball. Part of this is due to, of course, his high strikeout and walk totals. While he struck out the ninth-most batters in the American League last year, he also was tied for third in most walks allowed. That is a lot of pitches he's throwing without a batter putting the ball in...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reached agreement on a four-year deal with Ubaldo Jimenez, and I still have fans asking whether they also could sign Ervin Santana. They seem set with starters. Let's not get greedy. Manager Buck Showalter can do some maneuvering with his starting candidates due to openings in the bullpen and having guys with options. The only certainties among relievers appear to be Tommy Hunter, Darren O'Day, Ryan Webb and Brian Matusz. Though Matusz will work out as a...

VIERA, Fla. - Tanner Roark has been quietly going about his business so far this spring, but very little about pitching coach Steve McCatty is quiet. So when Roark was wrapping up his bullpen session this morning, McCatty turned to minor league pitching coordinator Spin Williams and took a playful shot at Roark, well within earshot of the right-hander. As most of you surely know, Roark's name is pronounced "Ro-ark," but when he first came up to the big leagues last season, many people...

VIERA, Fla. - The chatter about Ryan Zimmerman eventually moving to first base has been going on for some time now. And while we don't know where Zimmerman will be playing the majority of his games two years from now, we do know that he'll get at least a little bit of playing time at first this season. New Nationals manager Matt Williams told Zimmerman this offseason that he wanted him to get a first baseman's mitt in preparation for this spring, where Zimmerman will get some work on the...

VIERA, Fla. - All 62 players on the Nationals' spring roster have reported to camp, according to manager Matt Williams. Reporters haven't seen Jayson Werth to this point, but that means nothing. Werth has apparently reported to people who actually matter, unlike myself, and he'll take part in player physicals tomorrow. Bryce Harper will meet with reporters tomorrow after he takes his physical. Today, Harper tossed on his Nationals red and blue pullover, laced up his cleats, shagged some...