VIERA, Fla. - Earlier today, I wrote about Wilson Ramos working his way back into the conversation about who should be the Nationals' starting catcher on opening day. Until recently, it hadn't actually been much of a conversation. The job was Kurt Suzuki's, both because of the way Suzuki performed down the stretch last season and also because Ramos wasn't expected to be ready to handle a starting workload on April 1, less than 11 months after he tore the ACL and meniscus in his right...

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned catcher Jose Gil and infielder Niuman Romero to minor league camp. With these assignments, the Orioles now have 51 players at major league spring training, including 14 non-roster invitees.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tsuyoshi Wada threw in the bullpen today and is ready to take the next significant step in his quest to join the Orioles' staff. He's no longer throwing only to prove that he's recovered from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow. The focus is shifting in a positive direction. It's about pitching now, not his recovery. "The rehab part of it is 10 months today or yesterday," said manager Buck Showalter. "Now he's going to progress to baseball...

With the start of the season fast approaching, the Orioles will host the return of Tag Day on Saturday, March 23, from 9:00 a.m. - noon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Tag Day gives fans interested in purchasing either a full or partial Season Plan for the 2013 season the opportunity to "try out" their seats before they buy. Available seats will be tagged with pennants, and Orioles sales representatives will be stationed in each section to discuss season plan options and answer questions. ...

The Washington Nationals today optioned outfielder Eury Perez to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and right-handed pitcher Nathan Karns, catcher Sandy Leon and infielder Anthony Rendon to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Additionally, the Nationals re-assigned left-handed pitcher Pat McCoy and infielders Will Rhymes and Matt Skole to minor league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. The...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals officially sent seven players to minor league camp today, a group that includes infielders Anthony Rendon and Matt Skole and right-hander Nathan Karns. None of those three had a legitimate chance to make the Nationals' 25-man roster out of spring training, but all three still made good use of their time in big league camp. Rendon was the one who turned the most heads; the 22-year-old - who is the Nationals' top prospect - hit the cover off the ball this spring,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Daniel McCutchen was startled when he turned around at his locker this morning and found three reporters waiting to interview him. He probably wondered whether he had been cut. McCutchen has flown under the media radar this spring as a non-roster pitcher invited to camp, but he's gaining attention after the Orioles convinced him to lower his arm slot. Factor in Mark Hendrickson and Adam Russell, and it's definitely become one of the story angles this spring. (See...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals sent four more players over to minor league camp this morning, according to a team source: infielders Anthony Rendon and Matt Skole, right-hander Nathan Karns and left-hander Pat McCoy. Update: In addition to the four players listed above, infielder Will Rhymes, catcher Sandy Leon and outfielder Eury Perez have also been sent to minor league camp, manager Davey Johnson announced. Rendon, Karns and Leon were optioned to Double-A Harrisburg, Perez was optioned to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado is out of the lineup today after making the trip to Fort Myers for last night's 9-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Wilson Betemit is starting at third base today against Jeff Niemann and the Tampa Bay Rays. Nolan Reimold is batting second and serving as the designated hitter. Conor Jackson is in right field while Nick Markakis continues to receive treatment and take a medicine pack for the herniated disk in his neck. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nolan...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't posted their lineup and the players who made the trip to Fort Myers yesterday aren't required to report until 11 a.m. Nick Markakis has an ice pack on the back of his neck with his T-shirt over it, giving him a hunchback look. It's menacing. Tsuyoshi Wada will throw off a regular mound again today. His left arm continues to feel good - news that he replayed through his interpreter. Daniel McCutchen will throw in the bullpen again today as he continues...