SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have announced the signing of pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to a four-year contract. He will be introduced to the media in a Thursday morning press conference. Jimenez, 30, agreed to terms on a $50 million deal on Monday. Most of his physical took place yesterday, with the eye and dental exams completed this morning. Jimenez already had a locker set up in the clubhouse this morning. He's been assigned No. 31. To make room for Jimenez on the 40-man roster, the Orioles...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez passed his physical, as expected, and the Orioles will announce his signing later today. The press conference will be held Thursday morning. The Orioles will make a corresponding 40-man roster move, which already has been decided. Outfielder Henry Urrutia participated in the last part of today's workout after his stomach issue subsided. "He made it out after everything got ... stopped," said manager Buck Showalter. "He's got to make sure he knows that...

VIERA, Fla. - Just before the end of the first period of today's U.S.-Czech Republic Olympic hockey game, which a number of Nationals players were intently watching on the lone TV in the clubhouse, Bryce Harper got up from his spot near the TV and headed to his locker to chat with a few reporters. Most of us had seen Harper at NatsFest a little under a month ago, when he declared that he wasn't sure whether he'd be 100 percent healthy when spring training began due to lingering effects from...

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...