DALLAS - Nationals skipper Davey Johnson spoke to media members at the Winter Meetings on Monday afternoon, tackling a number of topics, from whether he thinks the team will find the center fielder it's seeking to whether he could go into the 2012 season with his present starting rotation. * Johnson said he would be fine with Jayson Werth, who played right field last year in his first season on D.C., starting in center field should the Nationals come up empty in their search for someone to...

DALLAS - I'll post quotes later, but I wanted to pass along the highlights from today's media session with executive vice president Dan Duquette. Duquette said he met with about 12 teams today and spoke to six or seven others. He has a few more meetings scheduled for tonight. Duquette said most of the activity today centered on trade discussions, and 65 percent of it involved pitching. The Orioles are in the market for a veteran starter who can provide stability to the rotation, but they...

DALLAS - Like general manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals skipper Davey Johnson wants to give Bryce Harper a chance to compete for a spot on the team's 25-man roster out of spring training. But there are obstacles stacked against the organization's future centerpiece, not the least of which are the facts that he's only 19 and has never played above Double-A. So in speaking to reporters at the Winter Meetings on Monday afternoon, Johnson had this message for his GM: Please keep an open...

DALLAS - Prince Fielder at first base with a curly W on his cap? Don't expect the Nationals to make a move on the biggest - literally and in terms of potential impact - free agent on the market. In an exclusive interview with MASNsports.com at the Winter Meetings, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Fielder isn't on the team's radar right now and that he's content to go into spring training with Adam LaRoche as the club's starting first baseman. "Right now, we feel very set at...

DALLAS - Mike Rizzo's shopping list hasn't changed, and he's spent most of his day in his suite on the fifth floor of the Hilton Anatole laying the groundwork for moves that may or may not come to fruition during the remainder of baseball's Winter Meetings. He's met with two agents representing free agents, though he declined to say whether the Nationals have extended a formal offer to either. Rizzo and the Nationals' brain trust have also spoken to a pair of teams about trade...

DALLAS - As of 4:30 p.m., the Orioles hadn't met with the agent for outfielder/DH Manny Ramirez. Or should that be DH/outfielder? Anyway, the Orioles aren't dismissing the idea of pursing Ramirez. "I don't think we're in a position to completely close the door on anything," manager Buck Showalter said. "I don't think we're far enough along with anything to say that's in, that's out, but we'll see." The Orioles have held internal discussions about Ramirez, but "not in depth,"...

DALLAS - After Orioles manager Buck Showalter met with a horde of reporters here today at the Winter Meetings, he took some time out for a one-on-one interview here on MASNsports.com. Showalter talked on several topics including the additions to the front office of Fred Ferreira and Lee Thomas. "Freddy was in New York with me and very instrumental in Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada," Showalter said. "Freddy is solid. Great addition. Lee Thomas, there is not many things Lee...

DALLAS - Orioles manager Buck Showalter finished a lengthy session with the media a few moments ago. Here are a few topics he addressed: Are these meetings any different with Dan Duquette? "There are some similarities. We met as a group this morning, the travel party at 8 a.m. Dan made a lot of assignments, different clubs. We gathered some more information. Everybody has their own personality and how they choose to do things. It's been fun. "Sometimes we make too much of these four...

DALLAS - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is meeting with the media. I'll pass along a few notes here, and check Steve Melewski's blog for quotes. Showalter laughed and shook his head when asked whether the Orioles signed Prince Fielder today. Maybe the results of the physical haven't come back yet. Kidding. Showalter repeated that every team here is looking for pitching. It's the "one common denominator," he said. Jim Johnson's role for 2012 remains undecided. He could be a starter...

DALLAS - The Twins claimed shortstop Pedro Florimon off waivers from the Orioles. The Orioles needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the Rule 5 draft. Also, pitcher Pedro Viola cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Florimon, who turns 25 on Saturday, went 1-for-8 for the Orioles in 2011, making his major league debut Sept. 10 at Toronto.