Chad Tracy has rejoined the Nationals after a lengthy injury absence. Jayson Werth isn't too far behind him. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Werth will likely get a few more games on a rehab assignment before getting activated, but that he's still hopeful that Werth will be ready to return to the Nationals' lineup before the end of this current homestand, which runs through the weekend. "He feels like he could play, but he's not quite 100 percent," Johnson said. "He's only,...

NEW YORK - Robert Andino is back with the Orioles. Now he has to get back in the lineup. Andino will begin tonight's game on the bench, but at least he's off the disabled list after a brief injury-rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. "Played two games down there pain-free," he said. "Did a little bit of sliding and everything. Ground balls. No pain. See how it goes. "Hardest thing was probably diving glove side right now. The other thing was probably sliding head-first." Andino...

Why didn't the Nationals make a trade of some kind prior to today's 4 p.m. no-waiver deadline? The reasoning is simple. They didn't feel they needed to. General manager Mike Rizzo held discussions with a number of teams over the last couple weeks, and there were a couple times that negotiations ramped up a bit. But at no point did Rizzo feel a deal was "imminent." He didn't see any major holes on his roster, and thus didn't force a trade of some kind. "It's not about complacency,...

NEW YORK - Executive vice president Dan Duquette just completed a conference call with reporters following today's non-waiver trade deadline, which passed without the Orioles making a deal. "The opportunities we looked at had a cost and I wasn't convinced that they weren't a lot better than the people we had in the organization, and you know, hence, we weren't able to make some of the deals we had on the table," Duquette said. "There will be some other opportunities in the month of...

Some pregame notes to ponder as the Orioles meet the Yankees tonight in New York: * The Orioles went 5-13 vs. the Yankees last year. They are 4-5 in 2012 and a win tonight would match their win total of all of last year. The Orioles have won four of their last five games against the Yankees after starting the season 0-4. * The Orioles went 2-7 last season at Yankee Stadium and this year, they are 3-1 there, outscoring New York 18-7. Since a 2-1 loss in their first game there this year, they...

Well, 4 p.m. has come and gone, and there's no word of any trade involving the Nationals that has been completed. The Nats appear to be standing pat at the non-waiver trade deadline, willing to stick with their current roster - for the time being, at least. Again, a trade can still be completed after today's deadline, as long as the players pass through waivers. That would allow the Nats to still look to upgrade their catcher depth over the next month. Update: Manager Davey Johnson wanted...

NEW YORK - The 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline has passed and the Orioles didn't make a trade. Executive vice president Dan Duquette will be available to the media in a conference call later this afternoon. So much for the heated trade talks with the Phillies for pitcher Joe Blanton. Nothing came of it. Keep in mind that trades can still be made after today. However, the players must pass through waivers. Update: I talked to an Orioles official who said, "We're trying to improve on what...

The Orioles today announced that they have activated infielder Robert Andino from the 15-day disabled list and placed designated hitter Jim Thome on the DL, retroactive to July 28, with a herniated disc in his neck. Andino has batted .230/.292/.325 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 79 games with the Orioles this season. He went 3-for-9 with a walk in two rehab games with Triple-A Norfolk. Thome has batted .261/.354/.391 with two home runs and six RBI in 18 games with the Orioles since...

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Chad Tracy from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned outfielder Corey Brown to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Tracy, who missed the last 55 contests with a right adductor strain, is batting .265 (13-for-49) with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI in 32 games this season with the...

If you were looking for the Nationals to make a move before the trade deadline, you're in luck. OK, it's not a trade, but it is a roster move. The Nats announce that they have activated infielder Chad Tracy from the disabled list and optioned outfielder Corey Brown to Triple-A Syracuse. Tracy landed on the DL all the way back on May 28 with a right adductor strain. He's missed the last 55 games, and still somehow is tied for the second-most pinch-hit RBIs in the majors. In many ways,...