There's really nothing surprising about yesterday's news that right-hander Livan Hernandez had signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros, ending his latest tour of duty with the Nationals. The Nats have finally gotten to the point where there's sufficient depth in their starting rotation, and enough arms in the minor leagues, that they had no need for a 36-year-old control specialist who got by on guile. Make no mistake, Hernandez wanted to return - "Of course, why wouldn't I?"...

Breaking news: The Orioles aren't expected to sign Edwin Jackson. In other news, Rhode Island isn't a road or an island, and Billy Cundiff isn't automatic from inside the 35. The Orioles weren't going to give Jackson more than three guaranteed years for the money he's been seeking, and he wasn't going to sign with them for one year and re-enter the free-agent market next winter. Not when he's looking to pitch for a contender and improve his value. That's been the case all along. I...

Chris Davis began last season as the starting third baseman for the Triple-A Round Rock Express and Nolan Reimold began last year as the starting left fielder for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. Davis has 1,807 career at-bats in the minors and 1,005 in the majors. Reimold has 1,986 in the minors and 741 in the majors. Reimold has spent parts of the past three seasons in Triple-A, while Davis has spent time in Triple-A in each of the last four seasons. Will 2012 be the year when both players get a...

Few personalities are as polarizing in recent Nationals history as Jim Riggleman. Depending on your point of view, he's either the underappreciated baseball lifer who presided over the infancy of the team's 2011 turnaround, or he's a self-centered egotist who put his personal goals over the team's. Regardless of which side of the fence you're on, it's hard to imagine a more surreal day than June 23, when Riggleman's abrupt and unforeseen resignation sucked the joy out of the Nats' 11th...

The Orioles announced today that they've reached an agreement with State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) Manatees Baseball, to play an exhibition game at Ed Smith Stadium on Tuesday, April 3 at 1:05 p.m. There will be no admission charge to attend the game except for reserved tickets near the SCF dugout that will be sold by the college, with proceeds supporting Manatees athletics. Tickets can be reserved through the SCF athletic department at 941-752-5261. For the last 12 years,...

The Orioles today announced that they have reached an agreement with State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) Manatees Baseball, to play an exhibition game at Ed Smith Stadium on Tuesday, April 3 at 1:05 p.m. There will be no admission charge to attend the game, with the exception of reserved tickets near the SCF dugout which will be sold by the college with proceeds supporting Manatees athletics. Tickets can be reserved through the SCF athletic department at 941-752-5261. Formerly...

The Nationals' bullpen continues to take shape with the signing last week of reliever Brad Lidge. The veteran of the Phillies and Astros is a two-time All-Star and could go very far in shoring up the back half of the bullpen, securing the seventh, eighth and ninth frames. Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said last week that he could envision Lidge as a guy who could finish off the seventh inning, or maybe go a full eighth inning and give way to Drew Storen. Or better yet, McCatty said...

When the Nationals arrive at Space Coast Stadium in a few weeks, it will be without the usual uncertainty that has accompanied the team to Viera, Fla., in past spring trainings. Up and down the roster, there are more sure things than question marks. Rotation? So many legitimate starting pitchers that either Ross Detwiler or John Lannan will likely end up in long relief. Bullpen? So many arms that someone like Ryan Mattheus or Henry Rodguez could be squeezed out. Starting lineup? Pretty solid,...

If Dan Duquette is to make some actual lasting changes for the better for the Orioles' organization, some of it will likely begin to happen at the minor league level this year. Upgrading the Orioles' player development and farm system is vital as the club tries to finally get better after 14 losing seasons. There are plenty of interesting angles and story lines to follow in the minor leagues this year. Over the next several weeks, I'll look to report on and address a few. Here are some to...

Following up on a tweet from yesterday, I was told that Brooks Robinson remains hospitalized in Hollywood Fla., after falling off a stage Friday night and sustaining two fractures in his rear shoulder area, including a broken clavicle. Robinson is resting comfortably. Well, as comfortably as you can rest with two fractures. Here's another look at the Orioles' spring training invites: Pitchers: Armando Galarraga, Pat Neshek, Ryan Edell, Dennys Reyes, Willie Eyre, Steve Johnson, Jon Link,...