If Micah Owings had any doubts at all that he'd made the right decision by opting to become a position player after six big league seasons as a pitcher, those doubts were erased this spring. Owings came into camp knowing he had a tough task ahead of him as he pursued a bit of a career change, putting aside bullpen sessions and instead working on getting reads on fly balls in the outfield and fine-tuning his hitting. It was unlikely Owings would be able to crack the Nationals' opening day...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is batting ninth again today against the New York Mets. Roberts will stay at the bottom of the lineup for Tuesday's opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't settled on one leadoff hitter for the regular season. Today, it's Nate McLouth's turn. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth CF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Steve Pearce DH...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' last roster cut will be announced following today's game against the New York Mets. Adam Jones is out of today's lineup. Orioles manager Buck Showalter wants to rest him. Jones has 62 plate appearances, including games in the World Baseball Classic, and Showalter wants to slow him down. That's all I can say about the lineup. I still haven't seen it. Jairo Asencio, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers this spring, is scheduled to pitch today. Jake Arrieta...

It's a pretty good time to be a talented major league baseball player. OK, there isn't ever really a bad time to be a talented major league ballplayer, but given the contract extensions we've seen handed out over the last couple of days, there's no better time than now to be able to throw in the mid-90s or be a young, skilled position player. A day after the Cardinals handed right-hander Adam Wainwright a five-year, $97.5 million extension, three more extensions got finalized around the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez is making his final start of the spring today in the Orioles' last exhibition game. They break camp on Sunday and head to St. Petersburg. Gonzalez has pitched in two Grapefruit League games, blanking the Phillies over two innings and allowing four runs (one earned) and four hits in two innings against the Pirates. Now he's facing the Mets, so he's working his way through the National League. After today, Gonzalez's next start will come on April 4 against...

I was asked often during radio show interviews the last few weeks if Brian Roberts should hit first in the Orioles' batting order. I said I thought he should. But, as usual, Buck Showalter makes perfect sense when he explains why Roberts will begin the season batting ninth. Buck knows best, I need to keep repeating that. He mentioned this may be the best way for Roberts to get back into full-time duty for the club and that they can always move him up in the order later if needed. Not to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing the New York Mets today in a noon game at Ed Smith Stadium that wraps up their exhibition schedule. They're also expected to make their final roster decision - Steve Pearce or Conor Jackson. Pearce would appear to be the favorite, and not just because he's taking home the Jake Fox trophy. It seemed as though the Orioles were done conducting business yesterday afternoon, but they signed pitcher Freddy Garcia and traded for reliever Scott Proctor...

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-hander Scott Proctor from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. In his seven year major league career with the Yankees, Dodgers and Braves, Proctor is 18-16 with a 4.78 ERA (343.0IP, 182ER) in 307 games (one start). In 2012, Proctor pitched for the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization and was 4-4 with 35 saves and a 1.79 ERA (55.1IP, 11ER) in 57 games. Proctor, 36, will be assigned to Triple-A...

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned OF Chris Dickerson to minor league camp. With these moves, the Orioles now have 31 active players, plus injured RHP Chris Tillman, at major league spring training, including four non-roster invitees (INF/OF Steve Pearce, INF/OF Conor Jackson, RHP Jair Jurrjens and LHP Mark Hendrickson).

The Orioles today announced that they have signed right-hander Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract. In his 14-year major league career, Garcia, 36, is 152-101 with a 4.15 ERA (2,183.2IP, 1,006ER). He was an American League All-Star with Seattle in 2001 and 2002 and finished second in Rookie of The Year balloting in 1999, when he went 17-8 with a 4.07 ERA (201.1IP, 91ER) in 33 starts for Seattle. Over the last two seasons with the New York Yankees, Garcia was 19-14 with a 4.29 ERA...