Spring training is still a few days away - I'll be touching down in Orlando on Saturday, then taking the hour-long drive east to Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., where I'll be holding down the fort pending the arrival of a new Nationals beat reporter soon - but the Nationals are already getting some attention from the national media types. It was bound to happen. But so soon? Last night on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" evening roundtable, ex-major leaguers-turned-analysts Dave Valle and...

The final items on my to-do list must be crossed off today. I'm running out of time before boarding my flight to Sarasota tomorrow morning for the start of spring training. The Orioles don't have any other players facing arbitration hearings, and they're not expected to anger any other countries. It should be a slow day. Speaking of lists, I'll be sure to add Zach Britton's name to the expanded story lines in spring training. He was going to be scrutinized anyway because he's competing...

Before the 2010 season, Baseball America released its list of the top 100 prospects in Major League Baseball. Brian Matusz was ranked at No. 5, Zach Britton at No. 63 and Jake Arrieta at No. 99. As we head into the 2012 season, all three pitchers are either currently dealing with an injury or had some injury issues last season. Yesterday, we learned that Britton is now dealing with some left shoulder inflammation and recently had an MRI. He said he fully expects to be ready for opening...

Pitcher Clay Rapada, who was designated for assignment by the Orioles on Feb. 6 after the Jeremy Guthrie trade, has cleared waivers and been released by the club tonight, according to the pitcher himself. In a move that seemed pretty classy to me, the pitcher confirmed a CBSsports.com transactions page report via Twitter that he has been released. The 31-year-old lefty, who was signed by the Orioles last winter as a minor league free agent, went 2-0 with an ERA of 6.06 for the Orioles in 32...

However this situation ends officially with Seong Min-Kim, the 17-year-old Korean high school pitcher, the Orioles are taking a big public relations hit for this signing - and it appears that it is deserved. MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko was the first to report tonight that, according to his industry sources, Kim's contract with the Orioles was going to be voided. Korean reporter Daniel Kim told me tonight that the Korean Baseball Organization has issued a press release in Korea, where it...

The Korean Baseball Organization's protest over the Orioles' signing of Seong-Min Kim will lead to Major League Baseball voiding the contract of the 17-year-old Korean pitcher, according to industry sources. I'm still trying to receive confirmation from the Orioles. I'm told that the Orioles could be facing some sort of punishment, and they will have to restart the negotiating process at a later date if they still want to bring Kim into the organization. The Orioles signed Kim to a minor...

Orioles pitcher Zach Britton said he's been dealing with inflammation in his left shoulder since the middle of December, but an MRI didn't reveal any structural damage and he isn't concerned about his availability for the April 6 opener if he makes the team. Britton will play catch from 90 feet Thursday and throw again on Saturday if his shoulder responds favorably. "They want to make sure I get into my arm slot," he said. "It's not a strength issue. The strength in my shoulder is...

Over at MLBTradeRumors.com (and, really, how did we ever survive without our daily dose of aggregated baseball headlines before this site?), they've constructed team-by-team lists of players who are out of options. These players must make the 25-man roster or be passed through waivers in an attempt to assign them to a minor league club. Some will make it, as teams are disinterested in them, figuring what they have is better than what they could have if they claimed a specific player. Others...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has been fielding calls this morning about left-hander Zach Britton's health, which led to the club issuing the following statement on his behalf: "We are currently monitoring Zach Britton. He has already reported to spring training and is scheduled to begin his throwing progression this Friday." Duquette's cousin, former Orioles executive Jim Duquette, tweeted this morning that Britton will be limited in spring training because of a sore...

Now that Adam Jones is under contract for 2012, we can focus on other matters, like whether the Orioles will sign him to an extension. Executive vice president Dan Duquette prefers to wait until after the season and avoid any distractions. Those talks remain on the back burner, where they've been all along. In the meantime, Jones can report to Ed Smith Stadium later this month and figure out where he's batting and who's setting the table for him. Jones sorely missed Brian Roberts atop the...