VIERA, Fla. - While Bryce Harper was the Nats' starting left fielder for the vast majority of last season, he essentially backed up Jayson Werth in right, starting 16 games out there, and also started eight games in center in place of Denard Span. Harper's versatility and arm strength allows him to play all three spots, and former Nats manager Davey Johnson took advantage of that, sliding Harper around the outfield as needed. This year, new Nats manager Matt Williams says that for the most...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have their third free-agent signing in a week. Outfielder Nelson Cruz passed his physical and signed a one-year, $8 million deal that includes another $750,000 in possible incentives. A press conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning and will include executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. Same arrangement as the other two press conferences. It's become a familiar scene. The Orioles designated left-hander Chris Jones for...

VIERA, Fla. - Spring training can be a tedious, dull experience for major league players. Many of the drills they're being put through during these weeks leading up to games are ones that they've been doing since middle school. Position players take batting practice and work on defensive fundamentals. Pitchers throw bullpens and practice fielding comebackers. Gets old after a while. Actually, it gets old after Day 2. So manager Matt Williams and the Nationals' coaches decided to take a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Owner Peter Angelos just arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He walked through the media workroom a few minutes ago. We're still waiting for the Orioles to announce the Nelson Cruz signing. Update: Angelos left the complex after shaking hands with manager Buck Showalter, who thanked him for stopping by. Angelos was in Tampa and decided to make the trip with son Lou Angelos and team counsel Alan Rifkin. As for Cruz, the Orioles are setting up for Tuesday morning's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz will fly to Philadelphia on Monday to have a wart removed from his left index finger, the same laser procedure he underwent three springs ago. Matusz will start Wednesday's intrasquad game and pitch again later in the week before leaving camp. Manager Buck Showalter estimated that Matusz could miss four or five days. Outfielder Quintin Berry will undergo an MRI on his back at 7 p.m., after leaving today's workout with spasms. Berry said it's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nelson Cruz won't work out with the Orioles today, according to executive vice president Dan Duquette. Cruz is listed on the practice sheet, but he isn't on the field. The Orioles are expected to announce Cruz's signing later today, though Duquette said the club is still "working on some things." That probably means the corresponding 40-man roster move. Outfielder Quintin Berry left the workout today with members of the athletic training staff. He may have an issue with...

Beginning today, Washington Nationals fans will have the opportunity to help select the sixth uniformed bobblehead of the upcoming season, presented by PNC Bank. The Fan Choice Bobblehead Vote will run all week long, allowing fans to choose between pitcher Tyler Clippard, first baseman Adam LaRoche or manager Matt Williams for the final bobblehead of the 2014 promotional schedule. Nationals fans can vote for their favorite team member three different ways: * Text 9 for Williams, 25 for...

VIERA, Fla. - They're calling for some more rain today here, but the Nationals might luck out again. It looks like the showers won't hit us until mid-afternoon, by which point the Nats will be off the fields and will have their workout behind them. That's chief meteorologist Dan Kolko with that report. The live batting practice sessions we saw over the weekend have been put on hold for a day, but they're scheduled to be a part of tomorrow's workout. All pitchers who haven't been...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Suk-Min Yoon is scheduled to make his spring debut for the Orioles on March 6 or 7. Yoon needs to obtain is work visa before taking the mound in a Grapefruit League game. According to Yoon's interpreter, Justin Yoo, the Orioles could find out later today whether it's done. The Orioles were able to spare Yoon a return trip to South Korea while the process played out. Yoon will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday, his last without facing hitters. Henry Urrutia has...

VIERA, Fla. - Like manager Matt Williams, Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr moved back and forth between Field 2 and Field 3 during yesterday's workout, trying to watch a little bit of every pitcher's live batting practice session just to see how everyone was looking. He watched Stephen Strasburg pound the zone and locate four pitches, (including his new slider) on Field 2, then walked by me on his way over to Field 3 to catch a bit of Jordan Zimmermann's session. I jokingly asked Knorr...