Trumbo on projected debut (and other notes)

Trumbo on projected debut (and other notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo said he isn't expecting to make his Grapefruit League debut this spring for a few more weeks, the process of recovering from September knee surgery continuing to play out. Trumbo has intensified his workouts in spring training, but the Orioles are being careful with him. "There's going to be a few tests to pass before. A safe bet would probably be two weeks from now," Trumbo said. "We still haven't totally ramped up. The full-speed sprint and kind of the...

Notes on Mountcastle, Cobb and more to wrap up latest workout

Notes on Mountcastle, Cobb and more to wrap up latest workout
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde continues to rotate players at different positions in camp. Heads can spin trying to track them. Ryan Mountcastle, Chris Bostick and Jace Peterson worked out at third base this morning on the Earl Weaver "Little" Field. Rio Ruiz and Steve Wilkerson moved to first base. Rule 5 picks Richie Martin and Drew Jackson were stationed at shortstop. Zach Vincej and Jack Reinheimer took ground balls at second base. Hyde is new to the organization and...

Karns, Harvey highlight first day of full-squad workouts

Karns, Harvey highlight first day of full-squad workouts
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles turned in their busiest day of spring training with early meetings and lingering physicals followed by stretching and the first full-squad workout of camp. Players were spread over every field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Live batting practice was held in the stadium and on fields 2-4. "We're getting guys going, getting ready for games," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I think some days you start on the first day, sometimes you start on the second day, but the...

Reviewing the first week of Orioles camp

Reviewing the first week of Orioles camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reached another spring mile marker today with the first full-squad workout. Every player is in camp except for infielder Alcides Escobar, who's expected to report later today, catcher Jesús Sucre and pitcher Gregory Infante - the latter two stuck in Venezuela for visa and health reasons. "(Today) definitely does step it up a notch. There's no doubt," said manager Brandon Hyde. "There are going to be balls flying all over the place. We're going to have...

Karns refuses to dodge the AL East

Karns refuses to dodge the AL East
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitchers have a tendency to avoid the American League East as if it's a contagious disease. Especially the ones who are attempting a comeback and willing to accept a one-year deal in order to reestablish their value on the free agent market. Then there's Nathan Karns, who preferred a team like the Orioles, based on their division. As crazy as it might sound. "I think it's one of the premiere divisions in the league, and you want to beat the biggest names and they tend to be...

Bleier, Karns and Harvey among Orioles pitchers throwing today

Bleier, Karns and Harvey among Orioles pitchers throwing today
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles held their workout today for pitchers and catchers in a steady drizzle. Electronic equipment set up behind the mounds - laptops and high-speed video cameras - were covered with towels. "I think we got fortunate," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We had all kinds of Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, depending on the weather, and fortunate to get the bullpens in. Obviously, we couldn't do a whole lot because the fields were so wet, but we feel good about getting the bullpens in...

Orioles sign Karns to major league deal (updated)

Orioles sign Karns to major league deal (updated)
Vowing back in December to proceed slowly through the free agent market while seeking to upgrade the roster, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has acquired his first player on a major league deal. Veteran right-hander Nate Karns has agreed to a one-year contract guaranteeing $800,000 with a possible $200,000 in incentives based on innings pitched, according to an industry source. Karns, 31, can max out at 100 innings, a total he's reached once in parts of five...

Karns discusses the trade, Ramos discusses Lobaton

Karns discusses the trade, Ramos discusses Lobaton
VIERA, Fla. - One day into spring training, we have our first trade. Not much time wasted there. Mike Rizzo found who he surely expects to be the Nationals' backup catcher this morning, completing a trade with the Rays that sends right-hander Nathan Karns to Tampa Bay in exchange for catcher Jose Lobaton. The teams have not yet announced the trade, but the deal is expected to be made official later today. Karns had just arrived to the Nats' facilities here in Viera this morning when Rizzo...

Nationals deal Karns to Tampa Bay for Lobaton

Nationals deal Karns to Tampa Bay for Lobaton
VIERA, Fla. - Earlier this morning, Nationals right-hander Nathan Karns discussed the possibility of being traded. Now the rumors have come to fruition. Karns just finished meeting with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, who informed him that he'd been dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays. So instead of reacquainting himself with teammates in the only organization he's ever known, Karns is now packing his gear and stuffing belongings into a giant trash bag. He'll soon be traveling across Florida...

Karns reacts to recent trade rumors

Karns reacts to recent trade rumors
VIERA, Fla. - Nathan Karns was having a relaxing dinner with fellow right-hander Aaron Barrett last night, mentally preparing for the first official day of spring training for Nationals pitchers and catchers today. Then Karns got a call from his agent telling him that his name was being tossed out in trade rumors involving Rays catcher Jose Lobaton. How about that for a bit of pre-camp news? "My mom calls me and goes, 'Is it true?' " Karns said today. "I was like, 'I have no idea, I...

Report: Nats and Rays discussing Lobaton-for-Karns trade

Report: Nats and Rays discussing Lobaton-for-Karns trade
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have been interested in Rays catcher Jose Lobaton for a little while now. A report late this afternoon tosses out right-hander Nathan Karns as a guy who might be able to help the Nats land Lobaton in a deal with Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that the Nats and Rays are talking about a Lobaton trade, with Karns serving as part of Tampa Bay's potential return for the 29-year-old catcher. Other players could be involved in the trade, according to the...

Assessing the candidates for the final spot in the Nats' rotation

Assessing the candidates for the final spot in the Nats' rotation
Yesterday was quite a day of television. Two NFL Divisional Round playoff games, a very interesting "60 Minutes" episode that featured a piece on Alex Rodriguez's alleged PED usage (I guess we still have to say "alleged," even though Rodriguez might be the only person left on the planet who doesn't believe he took PEDs), and then the Golden Globes. I'm usually not a big awards show guy, but I flipped over to the Golden Globes right as Jon Voight won an award for the Best Supporting...

On the lefty relief market and the Nats' improved pitching depth

On the lefty relief market and the Nats' improved pitching depth
Another left-handed reliever that the Nationals were linked to this offseason has landed a multi-year, eight-figure contract. J.P. Howell has agreed to a two-year deal with the Dodgers worth a guaranteed $11.25 million, with a mutual option for 2016 worth $6.25 million, according to various reports. The option can reportedly vest based on a certain amount of appearances over the two guaranteed years. Howell's deal comes after Boone Logan agreed to a three-year, $16.5 million contract with...

No. 8 Nats prospect: Nate Karns

No. 8 Nats prospect: Nate Karns
Nate Karns got a taste of the big leagues last season and held his own. The 6-foot-3, 230-lb. Karns did a nice job building off a very successful 2012 season by pitching well again last season. Karns went 10-6 with a 3.26 ERA in 23 starts for Double-A Harrisburg. His final numbers in his three major league starts - 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA - don't jump out, but he kept the Nationals in games against the Orioles and Braves. On June 2, he was almost able to get through five frames against Atlanta....

Young starting pitchers could serve bullpen apprenticeships

Young starting pitchers could serve bullpen apprenticeships
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The acquisition of Doug Fister and an impending spring training competition for the fifth starter's spot in the Nationals rotation has created a crunch for the young starting pitchers vying for a spot on the 25-man roster out of spring training. While it wouldn't be surprising to see right-handers Taylor Jordan, Tanner Roark or Nate Karns forming the bulk of the rotation at Triple-A Syracuse should they not make the major league club out of spring training, there's...

Harrisburg eliminated by Trenton in Double-A finals, but team stacked with talent

Harrisburg eliminated by Trenton in Double-A finals, but team stacked with talent
Trenton Thunder scored five runs in the third inning in a 11-4 win over the Harrisburg Senators at Metro Bank Park. The Thunder clinched the Eastern League Championship three games to none. Nathan Karns pitched just 2 2/3 innings, allowing a run-scoring triple by Tyler Austin in the third. Seven batters reached in a row to highlight Trenton's big inning. Justin Bloxom had an RBI single and Jeff Howell added a two-run single. Harrisburg struggled with runners in scoring position, going...

Johnson says Nats need fifth starter for Saturday, updates Harper's return

Johnson says Nats need fifth starter for Saturday, updates Harper's return
Nationals manager Davey Johnson said the team will decide sometime during the Arizona series who will replace injured starter Dan Haren. "We have (Ross) Ohlendorf here," Johnson said. "We also have a couple of young pitchers down (in Double-A Harrisburg) like (Nathan) Karns, and there is also a teammate of his." Johnson did not mention anyone from Triple-A Syracuse, saying the candidate will "more than likely come from (Double-A)." "We will make that decision, like I said, in a...

Ohlendorf coming up, Garcia transfered to 60-day DL

Ohlendorf coming up, Garcia transfered to 60-day DL
The Nationals have announced they've officially selected the contract of right-hander Ross Ohlendorf from Triple-A Syracuse, and they'll hand the ball to the 30-year-old tonight out in Colorado. To make room for Ohlendorf on the 25-man roster, the Nats optioned right-hander Nathan Karns to Double-A Harrisburg. Karns went 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts with the Nats. To make room for Ohlendorf on the 40-man roster, which is currently full, the Nats have transferred right-hander...

Unable to go streaking

Unable to go streaking
You ready for something remarkable? The Nationals, a team loaded with talent and built up by expectations of a deep playoff run, have not won more than two consecutive games in over a month. It's pretty tough for a team not to run off a simple three-game winning streak at some point over an extended stretch. The lowly Marlins put together three wins in a row a couple of weeks ago. Bo Porter's Astros had a six-game winning streak recently. The Nats, however, continue to be stuck in neutral,...

Johnson discusses Nats' doubleheader sweep

Johnson discusses Nats' doubleheader sweep
Nationals players and coaches showed up to the ballpark before 10 a.m. today. So did reporters, but that's neither here nor there. About 14 hours later, the Nats will file out of the home clubhouse at Nats Park exhausted and a bit physically worn down, but they'll at least have two more wins in the standings than they did when they arrived this morning. They'll also be back to .500 and will head out on their nine-game road trip in a much better mental state than if they would have dropped...