The Nationals have agreed to terms with shortstop Ian Desmond on a two-year, $17.5 million deal, according to a source familiar with the contract, which buys out Desmond's last two years of arbitration. The deal is very similar to the one agreed to earlier today by Jordan Zimmermann. Both players now have set salaries for 2014 and 2015, and the Nats still hope to finalize long-term deals with Zimmermann and Desmond, but both are still free agents after the 2015 campaign. Desmond will make...

The Nationals and Jordan Zimmermann agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract today, a deal that buys out Zimmermann's final two arbitration years and locks him in at salaries of $7.5 million for this year and $16.5 million for 2015. But before that deal was even discussed, Zimmermann and the Nationals talked about a long-term deal. During a phone conversation this afternoon, Zimmermann described those long-term contract talks as "preliminary" and said that he and the Nats were not close...

Nationals fans will be able to catch Grapefuit League action throughout the spring Washington Nationals broadcast partners Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and 106.7 The Fan will broadcast a total of 14 Nationals Spring Training matchups throughout the weeks leading up to the start of the 2014 regular season. The Nationals 2014 Grapefruit League schedule features six games televised by MASN and a combined ten games airing on 106.7 The Fan and partner station CBS Sports Radio 1580 WJFK AM....

The Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $24 million deal with right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, a source confirmed late this morning. The deal does not extend the length that the Nationals control Zimmermann, but it effectively buys out Zimmermann's final two years of arbitration and provides him a set salary through the 2015 season. Zimmermann will make $7.5 million in 2014 and $16.5 million in 2015, the source confirmed. The New York Post was first to report the Nats and Zimmermann...

The Orioles have until 1 p.m. today to sign their remaining arbitration-eligible players before the sides exchange figures and hearing dates are arranged. Try to breathe normally. They reached agreement with pitcher Bud Norris last night and have come to terms on one-year deals with Tommy Hunter and Troy Patton this morning, according to sources. I actually was exchanging text messages with Hunter earlier today. He hadn't heard that a deal was done, then got the call a few seconds later...

The

In case you missed it late last night, the Nationals agreed to terms with Ross Detwiler on a contract for the 2014 season, one that will pay the left-hander $3 million with a chance to earn $50,000 more if he throws 180 innings. That leaves seven arbitration-eligible Nats players without contracts at this point: Jerry Blevins, Tyler Clippard, Ian Desmond, Doug Fister, Wilson Ramos, Drew Storen and Jordan Zimmermann. As I mentioned earlier in the week, expect a number of deals to come in a...

No more mini-camp news today. And no more Sarasota sunshine, though the wind yesterday cut through me like a knife while I stood on one of the back fields and watched Nolan Reimold and Delmon Young take batting practice. The temperatures dipped into the 50s, and anyone who's spent time in Florida knows that it feels more like the 30s down there. In Baltimore, it would be smedium T-shirt weather. The Orioles moved their batting practice session to a field where the wind was blowing in,...

Maybe crying in baseball is sometimes OK. I didn't exactly need to reach for a paper towel, but I got a little misty-eyed last night watching that MLB Network special on Cal Ripken's most memorable game. Yep, I'll admit it. It was a tremendous special about the night of Sept. 6, 1995 when Ripken played in consecutive game No. 2,131 to pass Lou Gehrig and become the game's all-time Ironman. Watching Ripken talk about his parents and watching him watch his dad, who died less than four...

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has taken another step on his surgically repaired left knee toward being ready to play on opening day. A great, big step. Machado received positive news today after having the knee examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. He's considered "way ahead of schedule," according to one member of the organization. Another estimation places him at six-to-eight weeks. Machado, 21, still hasn't been cleared for baseball activities, but it's a mere...