How do Nats prospects end up playing in winter leagues?

How do Nats prospects end up playing in winter leagues?
Each offseason, a handful of Nationals prospects get the opportunity to work on their skills and gain valuable playing time experience in winter league competition in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Do the Nationals just send whichever players they want to these teams? Or does the player decide when and where he plays? There is a winter league agreement that's the governing document between Major League Baseball and the winter leagues that mandates how many of these...

Machado places fourth, Davis 14th in AL MVP balloting

Machado places fourth, Davis 14th in AL MVP balloting
Though the Orioles were shut out this year in the Baseball Writers' Association of America awards, third baseman Manny Machado and first baseman Chris Davis gained a measure of notice. Machado placed fourth tonight for Most Valuable Player in the American League, while Davis finished 14th. Machado received four third-place votes, 11 fourth, five fifth, one sixth, one seventh, one eighth, three ninth and one 10th for 158 total points. Davis received five seventh-place votes, two eighth, two...

Gausman gives up home run, Markakis hits one (Gausman done)

Gausman gives up home run, Markakis hits one (Gausman done)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's starting pitchers, the Orioles' Kevin Gausman and the Pirates' Garret Cole, allowed leadoff home runs in the first inning. How often does that happen? Anyone care to look it up? Starling Marte drove a Gausman pitch to center field. Nick Markakis, who remained in the lineup despite dealing with a stomach issue, cleared the fence in left-center field for his first spring home run. David Lough reached on an error, stole second and took third on a ground ball, but...

Orioles announce three cuts, take early lead on Pirates (Hardy homers)

Orioles announce three cuts, take early lead on Pirates (Hardy homers)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned pitchers Mike Wright and Fabio Castillo and first baseman Chris Marrero to minor league camp. The moves leave the Orioles with 56 players in major league camp, including 16 non-roster invitees. Wright is regarded as one of the better pitching prospects in the organization and could start the year at Triple-A Norfolk. Chris Davis belted an opposite-field two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead over the Pirates...

Marrero reassigned, Duquette addresses Santana speculation

Marrero reassigned, Duquette addresses Santana speculation
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned first baseman Chris Marrero to minor league camp due to an oblique injury that has kept him out of workouts and games. Marrero could return once he's finally healthy and get some at-bats in Grapefruit League games, but he's off the camp roster. More cuts are coming later today. Center fielder Adam Jones will leave camp on Tuesday for the birth of his first child, which will take place the following day. Suk-min Yoon threw a bullpen session...

Morning notes from camp (updated)

Morning notes from camp (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Johan Santana walked through the clubhouse this morning. He's got a locker set up and will talk to reporters following the workout. Approximate time is 12:30 p.m. Infielder Alexi Casilla will test his hamstring by hitting outdoors today. He's making slow progress. First baseman Chris Marrero, who's been sidelined with an oblique injury for most of camp, will take some dry swings today. He attempted to throw recently and still experienced discomfort on his...

Injury updates and more

Injury updates and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Henry Urrutia received treatment today for a sore right shoulder. He's still able to swing a bat, but the Orioles will limit his throwing until he's better. Outfielder Quintin Berry worked out on the back fields today and could play on Sunday. An MRI on his back earlier this week came back clean. "He's trying to do everything today," said manager Buck Showalter. Infielder Alexi Casilla remains shut down with a sore right hamstring. "Little by little,"...

Hearing from Hardy and Showalter after today's workout (with photo gallery)

Hearing from Hardy and Showalter after today's workout (with photo gallery)
SARASOTA, Fla. - A few minutes before today's Nelson Cruz press conference, eight of his new teammates walked into the interview room and formed a line before the video cameras. Tommy Hunter found an empty chair and took a seat. Hunter was joined by Adam Jones, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy, Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Nick Markakis, Darren O'Day and hitting coach Jim Presley. "Just kind of giving him a little bit of support," Hardy said. "We all know him from playing against him or playing...

Orioles sign Xavier Paul to minor league deal (more signings announced)

Orioles sign Xavier Paul to minor league deal (more signings announced)
The Orioles have signed outfielder Xavier Paul to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to a team official. Paul, 28, batted .244/.339/.402 with 12 doubles, seven homers and 32 RBIs in 97 games with the Reds. He hit .253/.349/.426 with all of his extra-base hits and RBIs against right-handers. He was 3-for-19 against lefties. The Reds non-tendered Paul, a career .254/.316/.376 hitter in parts of five major league seasons with the Dodgers, Pirates and...

Orioles sign Marrero, and Machado note

Orioles sign Marrero, and Machado note
The Orioles have signed first baseman Chris Marrero to a minor league contract, according to a team official. The Nationals made Marrero, a right-handed hitter, the 15th overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. Marrero, 25, has posted a .232/.256/.272 slash line in 39 major league games in 2011 and 2013, with five doubles, 11 RBIs, four walks and 31 RBIs in 133 plate appearances. He went 2-for-16 with an RBI this season. Marrero batted .270/.331/.402 with 17 doubles, two triples,...

Marrero outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse

Marrero outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse
Former first-round pick Chris Marrero, once viewed as the Nationals' first baseman of the future, was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse today. This removes Marrero from the Nationals' 40-man roster and means that he'll become a minor league free agent after the World Series is over. The 25-year-old Marrero's time with the Nats is almost certainly now over. Marrero was taken by the Nats with the 15th overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Monsignor Edward Pace High School in...

Taylor Jordan, Erik Davis up; Kobernus, Marrero optioned

Taylor Jordan, Erik Davis up; Kobernus, Marrero optioned
NEW YORK - The Nationals made two roster moves this morning. We knew one was coming. One is a little bit of a surprise. The Nats have selected the contract of right-hander Taylor Jordan from Double-A Harrisburg and also recalled right-handed reliever Erik Davis. To make room for those two, first baseman Chris Marrero and outfielder Jeff Kobernus were both optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. We knew Jordan would be coming up today and getting this afternoon's start against the Mets and that...

Johnson on Nats' 6-4 comeback win (Marrero optioned)

Johnson on Nats' 6-4 comeback win (Marrero optioned)
NEW YORK - Over the seven innings that Mets ace Matt Harvey was in tonight's game, the Nationals managed one run on three hits. Harvey overpowered the Nats, as he'd overpowered pretty much every other team he's faced this season. But the Nats kept the game close, and trailed 4-1 when the mediocre Mets bullpen was called upon in the eighth. Then they pounced. Ryan Zimmerman tied the game with a bases-loaded, two-out double in the eighth, and Ian Desmond smacked a go-ahead double in the...

Zimmermann facing Indians for first time, Marrero earns first start since '11 (update)

Zimmermann facing Indians for first time, Marrero earns first start since '11 (update)
Jordan Zimmermann faces the Indians for the first time in his career, looking to help the Nationals even their weekend interleague series. Zimmermann has been exceptional since his first dud of the season, a May 29 loss at Baltimore where the right-hander allowed seven runs in six innings. Over the two starts heading into tonight, he has held opponents to just two unearned runs on six hits while fanning 12 and walking three in 15 frames. He'll be going for his 10th win today. Former top...

Rizzo on Marrero call-up, Harper's knee, Espinosa's health

Rizzo on Marrero call-up, Harper's knee, Espinosa's health
Having called up Chris Marrero from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the temporary 26th spot on their roster for today's doubleheader, the Nationals will need to drop a player by tomorrow to get back down to the 25-man roster limit. They're not giving any indication yet of who will be sent down, however. "We'll make that decision after the two games today, but the rules allow us to bring a 26th man up," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "And we felt it was the thing to do." The Nats already...

Chris Marrero joins Nats as team's 26th guy

Chris Marrero joins Nats as team's 26th guy
The Nationals have taken advantage of a rule that allows teams to bring up a 26th player for doubleheaders, recalling first baseman Chris Marrero from Triple-A Syracuse. General manager Mike Rizzo said the Nats will decide after today who will be sent down in order to get the roster back to 25. Marrero last appeared with the Nationals in 2011, when he hit .248 with 10 RBIs in 31 games. In November of that year, he underwent surgery to repair a torn left hamstring sustained while playing in...

Ted Leavengood: Is it time to fish or cut bait?

Ted Leavengood: Is it time to fish or cut bait?
The end of a tough road trip may not be the right moment, but the time is coming for the 2013 Nationals to fish or cut bait. The basic facts were laid out in a USA Today article Monday that cited the Nationals' offense as 29th in batting average and OBP, and 27th in runs scored among major league teams. It did not get better last night as another struggling pitcher, Ryan Vogelsong, found his A-game against the Nationals, crafting a three-hit shutout over five innings before leaving with a...

Now completely healthy, Marrero shows off bat again

Now completely healthy, Marrero shows off bat again
The torn hamstring stunted first baseman Chris Marrero's season before it really ever got started in 2012. His shoulder and hamstring slowed him down for much of the time and he never was able to feel 100 percent healthy for long periods of time last season. Following 127 games for Triple-A Syracuse in 2011, he had to fight back from injury in 2012. Marrero ended up playing only 37 contests with the Chiefs last season. So it certainly had to be refreshing for Marrero to work his way through...

You'll have to wait longer for Nats' first pick in 2013 draft

You'll have to wait longer for Nats' first pick in 2013 draft
For the most part, Nationals fans who treat the First-Year Player Draft in June like it was Christmas Day have not had to wait long to open their first present. Since their arrival in D.C. from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have traditionally drafted pretty high, the reward for usually finishing low in the standings. Take away their choice of Miami Gardens, Fla., prep outfielder Chris Marrero with the 15th selection in the 2006 draft and last year's selection of California...

Chris Marrero could return to Syracuse lineup in one week (updated)

Chris Marrero could return to Syracuse lineup in one week (updated)
Good news this week for Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Chris Marrero, who has been slowed the last month as he recovers from an offseason torn hamstring. Manager Tony Beasley said Marrero has made big progress the last few weeks. "He has been running the bases," Beasley said. "He will run them again (today). He has been taking batting practice. He is feeling pretty good right now. We anticipate him back in probably (five) days or so. He will probably go and get some A-Bs...