The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with outfielder/first baseman Matt Stairs on a non-guaranteed minor league contract, which includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Stairs is an 18-year big league veteran who has competed in four post-seasons and won a World Series championship with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. He owns the all-time Major League...

The Orioles have bigger fish to fry than a second utility player. A first baseman comes to mind. It jumps right into the boat. I'm not overly concerned about a veteran starter, though I understand the team's interest in acquiring one. Manager Buck Showalter wants more options for the five spots. He's counting six right now, which doesn't give him much room if there's an injury or a young arm - we'll use Zach Britton as an example - isn't deemed ready. Rick VandenHurk, who's out of...

A team official confirmed this afternoon that the Orioles have reached agreement with former Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo on a one-year deal worth $1.08 million. The Sun quotes Accardo's agent, Damon Lapa of All Bases Covered Sports Management (catchy name.) The deal is official pending a physical. The Blue Jays non-tendered Accardo, making him a free agent. He's eligible for arbitration again after 2011, so the Orioles could retain his rights for another season. Accardo registered...

Manager Buck Showalter believes that the Orioles traded for Mark Reynolds "at the perfect time." He considers Reynolds a "change of scenery guy," as he described the new third baseman earlier today. Showalter doesn't care about the .198 average and the three straight seasons with 200-plus strikeouts. That's in the past. Mark Reynolds stops by the MASNsports.com Web Studio for a one-on-one with Roch Kubatko Reynolds made his first friend on the team when he shared a ride with pitcher...

It doesn't sound like the Orioles have a lot of interest in pitcher Joe Blanton, who's reportedly available after the Phillies signed left-hander Cliff Lee. The reviews seemed to be mixed in the organization and I'd be surprised if the club made a run at him. The Orioles still want to add a veteran starter to provide more competition in spring training. Right now. you're looking at Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Brad Bergesen, Chris Tillman, Zach Britton and Rick VandenHurk....

Since I'm keeping tabs on the facial hair, I'll pass along that Jake Arrieta is sporting a full beard. That's going to come off in Sarasota. Arrieta says the concern over the bone spur in his right elbow was "kind of blown a little bit out of proportion." "I know some people have my health as a concern, just with that bone spur, but it's been there for a long time," he said. "Kind of went away. It only kind of flared up for that one outing and then went away, so it's really not an...

Koji Uehara arrived at the Dave & Buster's at the Arundel Mills Mall with sideburns that are so long, the ends meet underneath his chin. And he wants to keep them that way as his new "trademark." Not sure that'll be allowed under the club's facial-hair policy, but I'm rooting for him. Uehara, speaking through interpreter Jiwon Bang - but also understanding many of the questions before they were relayed to him - said he's "really happy" to stay with the Orioles. Asked for the factors...

Last week, the Racing Presidents traded in their running shoes for ballet slippers. Teddy, Abe, George and Tom appeared in Septime Webre's The Nutcracker at Warner Theatre. Check out their rehearsal and performance video below:

I woke up to the shocking news that Cliff Lee has agreed to a five-year, $120 million deal with one of his old teams, the Philadelphia Phillies. So much for the Yankees and Rangers fighting it out for Lee. There's something about the Yankees not getting what they want that puts a smile on my face, even at this early hour. Lee took a lesser deal to pitch for the Phillies again, but we're still talking $120 million. And the contract reportedly includes a vesting option for a sixth year that...

The Nationals like what they have seen so far from young infielders Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa, who appear to be the shortstop and second basemen of the future for the Nats in 2011 and beyond. The next second baseman set to impress in the chain is Stephen Lombardozzi, who displayed solid numbers in Single-A Potomac, Double-A Harrisburg and Scottsdale of the Arizona Fall League this season. Lombardozzi produced the game-winning RBI hit to lift Scottsdale to the AFL championship. He...