SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis returned to the Orioles this morning after flying back to Baltimore on Wednesday to attend a funeral. Markakis underwent a test before leaving to determine the cause of his acid reflux symptoms - the same procedure given to third baseman Manny Machado and left-hander Zach Braddock. "I had the test done in 2005 and they just wanted to go in and do a checkup and make sure everything was OK," Markakis said. "I had a little reflux and everything turned out...

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez has received word from the Major League Baseball Players Association that he has tested negative for performance-enhancing drugs. Two days after the Miami New Times listed Gonzalez among a group of players linked to Biogenesis, a Miami-area anti-aging clinic that was allegedly supplying performance-enhancing substances to players, Gonzalez had both his blood and urine tested by MLB. The Nationals left-hander, who finished third in the National League Cy Young...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta, Tommy Hunter, Steve Johnson, Dylan Bundy, T.J. McFarland, Todd Redmond, Zach Clark and Adam Russell will pitch Saturday in the Orioles' exhibition opener against the Minnesota Twins. As you can tell, each pitcher is scheduled to throw one inning. Jair Jurrjens, Troy Patton, Mike Belfiore, Kevin Gausman, Mike Wright, Daniel Schlereth and Eduardo Rodriguez will pitch Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. Manager Buck Showalter will likely...

The Orioles have announced plans for the first game of their 2013 spring training season and their fourth season in Sarasota. The team will face the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow, Saturday, February 23, at 1:05 p.m. Tomorrow and throughout the season, ballpark gates will open two hours prior to the scheduled first pitch. All fans attending tomorrow's opener will receive a 2013 spring training magnet schedule presented by the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the first...

The Orioles announced this afternoon that they will wear a patch honoring former manager Earl Weaver on their jersey sleeve during the 2013 season. Weaver, the fiery skipper known for managing the Orioles' pennant-winning teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s, died Jan. 19 at 82 on an Orioles fan cruise in the Caribbean. His passing turned FanFest at the Convention Center into a public wake, and O's fans placed memorials from an orange lei to a can of National Bohemian to an Orioles cap at...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada estimated that he threw 15 pitches today in his third half-mound session this week. He remains scheduled to throw off a regular mound Monday for the first time since his ligament-reconstructive surgery in May. "It felt the best today," he said through his interpreter/athletic trainer. Wada hasn't experienced any setbacks in his recovery from the surgery. "It's gradually getting better and better, day by day," he said. "Today was more...

VIERA, Fla. - It's not hard to spot Chris Young, so when I walked past the trainer's room a bit earlier and saw a 6-foot-10 figure to my right, I knew the newest Nationals pitcher had arrived in camp. Young, who the Nats signed to a minor league deal yesterday, will throw a bullpen session for the Nationals today and then the team will decide where he's at in his throwing program and how best to utilize him over the next couple of weeks. For now, general manager Mike Rizzo is just happy to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are holding a normal workout today before Saturday's exhibition opener against the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Defensive drills, batting practice, a few bullpen sessions. Nolan Reimold said he feels good after entering yesterday's intrasquad game in the third inning. Reimold and manager Buck Showalter are confident that the outfielder won't experience any physical issues this spring after his disc surgery. It's just a matter of building up strength in...

VIERA, Fla. - Ready for a few fun facts about the Nationals' newest pitcher, Chris Young, who was signed to a minor league deal yesterday? Young spent the 2003 season in the Expos' minor league system after being acquired from the Pirates in as part of a deal for Matt Herges, and pitched for high Single-A Brevard County and Double-A Harrisburg. He was traded to the Rangers in 2004 and broke into the big leagues with Texas that season. The 6-foot-10 righty is tied with three others as the...

The Orioles' first Grapefruit League game is just a day away. MASN will keeping you updated on all things spring training, so be sure to give Roch Kubatko a follow on Twitter and us a follow on Instagram. There was much news around the Sarasota, Fla., facility this week, including Jair Jurrjen's agreement to a minor league deal and the contract extension of reliever Darren O'Day. Former center fielder Brady Anderson was promoted to vice president of baseball operations Tuesday. Pitcher...