The Nationals extended invitations to spring training to another batch of players Friday and right-hander Josh Wilkie from George Washington University was among them. Wilkie notched nine holds and eight saves with a 2.45 ERA and .228 batting average against in 53 games, including one start, last season for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. In five minor league seasons, the 26-year-old has 28 holds, 31 saves and a 2.91 ERA in 210 games. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in June 2006, he is a...

RHP Josh Wilkie, LHP Matt Chico, C Derek Norris & C Jhonatan Solano receive Spring Training invites The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher J.D. Martin, catcher Carlos Maldonado and first baseman Kevin Barker on minor-league contracts with invitations to Spring Training. Additionally, the Nationals extended Spring Training invitations to right-handed pitcher Josh Wilkie, left-handed pitcher Matt Chico and catchers Derek Norris and Jhonatan Solano. Nationals...

Justin Duchscherer has passed his physical examination, making his one-year contract with the Orioles official. Duchscherer's signing takes the Orioles' 40-man roster to its limit. The right-hander is expected to be part of the team's starting rotation and will report to spring training in Sarasota, Fla., later this month. The Orioles will make Duchscherer available to reporters via a conference call at an undetermined time. His travel plans altered the original schedule. The important...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed free agent RHP Justin Duchscherer to a one-year contract. Duchscherer (pronounced Duke-sher), 33, went 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA (28.0IP, 9ER) in five starts for the Oakland Athletics in 2010. He did not pitch after April 29 and had surgery to correct a Femoral Acetabular Impingement in his left hip on June 7. A two-time All-Star (2005 and 2008), Duchscherer is 33-25 with a 3.13 ERA (454.2IP, 158ER) in eight major league seasons. He has made 32...

No truth to a rumor that, while walking into the warehouse Wednesday Andy MacPhail saw his shadow and that means six more weeks of Vladimir Guerrero rumors. Can anyone even stand six more hours of this? I'm still waiting to find out who offered Guerrero that $8 million dollar deal. Yeah, right. I think MacPhail has handled this situation/negotiation with Guerrero perfectly. He is not going to bid against himself and if Guerrero falls to the Orioles, he'll take him. But clearly, the O's...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed and invited 16 non-roster players to their major league spring training camp. Pitchers invited to camp include: LHPs Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada and RHPs Mitch Atkins, Ryan Drese, Armando Gabino, Wynn Pelzer, Raul Rivero and Josh Rupe. Position players invited include CAs Adam Donachie, Michel Hernandez and Caleb Joseph; OFs Tyler Henson and Randy Winn; and INFs Ryan Adams, Nick Green and Brendan Harris. Of the pitchers invited, six have...

The Single-A

Since a few of you asked and I always try to please my readers - well, up to a certain point - I'm told the Orioles have had "light discussions only" regarding Oscar Salazar, who was designated for assignment by the Padres. I don't sense a lot of enthusiasm, but it's not like the idea was dismissed entirely. You know it's a slow news day when a non-roster spring training invite for Randy Winn stirs up conversation on this blog. You know it's a slow morning when I'm revisiting the...

The Orioles have signed and invited 16 non-roster players to their major league spring training camp. Let's start with the pitchers: Right-handers Mitch Atkins, Ryan Drese, Armando Gabino, Wynn Pelzer, Raul Rivero and Josh Rupe, and left-handers Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada. Position players include catchers Adam Donachie, Michel Hernandez and Caleb Joseph; outfielders Tyler Henson and Randy Winn; and infielders Ryan Adams, Nick Green and Brendan Harris. Randy Winn? Did I forget about...

One of the biggest curiosities among fans and media is how spring training could change under manager Buck Showalter's guidance. I've never spent seven weeks with him in Florida or Arizona, so I'm not qualified to say. He's built a reputation as a no-nonsense guy, but it's not like the other managers hung piñatas on the backstops and used their stopwatches for potato sack races. Second baseman Brian Roberts was asked at FanFest whether he anticipated a different climate...