The Tampa Bay Rays have been mentioned around baseball as one team that could look to make a deal for Nationals left fielder/first baseman Michael Morse. Joe Maddon's team is still looking for more offense, and the Rays have pitching that could be dealt in order to bring in a middle-of-the-order bat. The Baltimore Orioles seem to make a lot of sense for Morse, as well, given their needs, and could potentially make a run at the 30-year-old slugger. The New York Yankees are reportedly...

Ready for spring training? Six of the Orioles' exhibition games will be broadcast on MASN HD, including a game versus the Yankees on Feb. 25. With news out of D.C. that Adam LaRoche has agreed to a two-year deal with the Nats, there has been more speculation regarding the Orioles and Michael Morse. Also, the Tigers are reportedly interested in J.J. Hardy. The Birds signed Tim Smith to a minor-league deal Tuesday. The team is also pursuing Joe Saunders, who is seeking a three-year deal. Be...

I can't imagine that too many players were happier to see the ball drop on New Year's Eve than Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, who needed a fresh start after 2012. And his luck must be changing because it didn't smash his toe. The Orioles finally posted a winning record and made the playoffs, which brought great joy to Markakis. But he underwent three surgeries - the first in January, the last in September - which was quite an oddity for a guy who played in 161, 157, 161, 160 and 160...

For weeks now, I have been recapping the offseason news around the Nationals organization, which is brought to you by MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko and Byron Kerr. While there has been much news this winter, each week, my fingers typed something having to do with the lack of news regarding Adam LaRoche. But now, this week, I can officially say that the first baseman will be back in The District for the next two seasons. LaRoche, who won his first Gold Glove in 2012, and the Nats agreed to a...

There is a baseball theory out there, and plenty of evidence behind it, that says relief pitchers and entire bullpens for that matter, are volatile and likely to see big swings in performance from year to year. There sure seem to be fewer relief pitchers than starters who can be counted on to produce top stats every season. Some believe closers are overrated and that you should seldom, maybe never, give bullpen pitchers multi-year contracts because of that volatility. So where does that leave...

The Orioles and OriolesREACH today announced plans for a three-day, four-city caravan around Maryland that will include appearances by Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette, Manager Buck Showalter and several Orioles players. On Wednesday, January 16, Orioles pitchers Brian Matusz and Kevin Gausman and the Oriole Bird will appear at the William Talley Recreation Center at 121 North Bentz Street in Frederick, home of the Class-A Frederick Keys, to meet with children from...

Lost in all the Adam LaRoche/Michael Morse stuff the other day, I forgot to mention that it looks like the Nationals will have a new speedy outfielder wearing jersey No. 2 this season. Denard Span tweeted that he will be wearing No. 2 with the Nationals, which was his number while playing with the Twins. The previous owner of that jersey number, Roger Bernadina, apparently has agreed to part ways with it. Span tweeted that Bernadina was "very gracious" in giving up the number. So there...

MASN, the television home of the defending American League wild card champion Baltimore Orioles, will broadcast six Orioles spring training games. All will appear on MASN HD, MASN's dedicated high-definition channel, beginning with the Orioles' Feb. 25 home game against the New York Yankees from Sarasota, Fla. The network's Grapefruit League coverage also includes five more games from Ed Smith Stadium, the team's spring training home: March 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays, March 14 against...

MASN, the television home of the defending National League East champion Washington Nationals, will broadcast six Nationals spring training games. All will appear on MASN HD, MASN's dedicated high-definition channel, beginning with the Nationals' Feb. 28 home game against the New York Mets in Viera, Fla. The network's Grapefruit League coverage also includes four more games from Space Coast Stadium, the team's spring training home: March 8 against the St. Louis Cardinals, March 16 against...

Even if your boss, significant other or parental unit won't allow you to make a trip down to Viera, Fla., to see a few Nationals spring training games in person, you'll have a chance to catch a number of Nats exhibition games on the small screen. I know, I know. It's not anywhere near the same thing, but for those of you starved for baseball, I'm sure it'll do. MASN HD will be airing six exhibition games this spring, five of which will take place at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. The TV...