Nats release catcher Chris Snyder (with Nieto note)

Nats release catcher Chris Snyder (with Nieto note)
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Nationals announced tonight that they've released catcher Chris Snyder, one more step to getting their roster down to the 25 players it will contain come opening day. Snyder, 33, signed a minor league contract with the Nats in December. He hit .294 (5-for-17) with a homer, a double and five RBIs in 12 games this spring. The veteran had a solid enough camp, but he had no realistic chance of making the Nats' opening day roster after the team acquired catcher Jose Lobaton...

Catcher Chris Snyder signs minor league deal with Nats (with Daubach note, update)

Catcher Chris Snyder signs minor league deal with Nats (with Daubach note, update)
If you're a fringe major leaguer hoping to find employment for the 2014 season, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Teams are handing out minor league contracts with spring training invitations like stocking stuffers, and the Nationals made such a move today. Though it's relatively minor, it could pay significant dividends down the road. Catcher Chris Snyder signed a minor league contract with the Nationals and will get the ubiquitous invitation to major league camp. If his name...

Let the free agent frenzy begin

Let the free agent frenzy begin
Anyone remember who the Orioles play on opening day next season? Oh, yeah, right. If one kid shows up at my door for Halloween tonight wearing a beard and a Red Sox cap, he's getting a treat from the crappy bag of candy. No mini Snickers or Kit Kat or Hershey bar or Reese's. Enjoy your Dum Dum. Consider yourselves lucky that I'm not handing out dental floss or pocket combs. I actually picked the Red Sox to win the World Series before the playoffs started, but I wasn't going out on a...

A few pregame notes from Camden Yards

A few pregame notes from Camden Yards
Orioles manager Buck Showalter wanted to rest Matt Wieters after a night game, and he decided to start Chris Snyder against White Sox left-hander Hector Santiago. He would have considered Steve Clevenger against a right-hander. Clevenger has impressed Showalter and bench coach John Russell with his hitting skills during workouts. "He has a nice flat bat," Showalter said. "It reeks of hit and run when you watch his swing. He doesn't strike out much. Puts the ball in play. He reminds me of...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will try to rebound today from two poor starts in a row, and the Orioles will try to win their third consecutive game in their series against the White Sox at Camden Yards. It would be the Orioles' first three-game winning streak since Aug. 6-9 - a span that included an off-day between trips to San Diego and San Francisco. Chen has allowed 11 runs and 12 hits in 7 2/3 innings, with eight walks and 10 strikeouts. In two career starts against the White Sox, Chen is...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The Orioles rode another roller coaster of emotions yesterday. No height requirement. And keeping your hands inside at all times was purely optional. Manager Buck Showalter was saddened to learn that catcher Taylor Teagarden had been designated for assignment. Definitely not his call. Then, his team fell behind 3-0 and starter Wei-Yin Chen made another early exit. Nobody called for that scenario. The Orioles erupted for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning, beat the Yankees and...

No locker for Teagarden; Clevenger, Snyder headed to NY (updated)

No locker for Teagarden; Clevenger, Snyder headed to NY (updated)
NEW YORK - The Orioles wasted no time taking advantage of September call-ups. The Orioles have called up catcher Steve Clevenger, the Mount St. Joseph grad, and purchased the contract of catcher Chris Snyder from Triple-A Norfolk.. Taylor Teagarden does not have a locker in the clubhouse. Teagarden may have been designated for assignment. Update: Teagarden has been designated for assignment. Clevenger was acquired in the deal that brought Scott Feldman to the Orioles from the Cubs. Snyder...

Orioles option Snyder (draft update)

Orioles option Snyder (draft update)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are taking early batting practice today. Roll call includes Ryan Flaherty, Alexi Casilla, Danny Valencia, Steve Pearce and Taylor Teagarden. Manager Buck Showalter has stepped out of the dugout at Tropicana Field to watch the session. Earlier today, the Orioles optioned backup catcher Chris Snyder to Triple-A Norfolk. Snyder was designated for assignment on Tuesday to make room for Taylor Teagarden on the 25-man roster. Snyder had the right to refuse an...

Orioles DFA Snyder to make room for Teagarden

Orioles DFA Snyder to make room for Teagarden
The Orioles finally made their roster move official tonight, activating Taylor Teagarden from the 15-day disabled list and designating Chris Snyder for assignment in a swap of backup catchers. Teagarden, 29, went on the DL on April 28 with a dislocated left thumb after appearing in four games and going 0-for-13. He threw out one of two runners attempting to steal. Teagarden appeared in three injury-rehab games at Triple-A Norfolk, catching twice and serving as the designated hitter. Snyder,...

A scout's take on Arrieta and the catchers (Hader note)

A scout's take on Arrieta and the catchers (Hader note)
The Orioles' quiet off-day made plenty of noise yesterday. Wei-Yin Chen will start doing some light throwing today in Sarasota, according to interpreter Tim Lin. The first round of American League All-Star voting was announced, and Chris Davis ranked first among first basemen and Adam Jones ranked second among outfielders. Davis was named AL Player of the Week for the second time this season, but Miguel Cabrera beat him out for monthly honors. Dylan Bundy was cleared to begin a throwing...

Snyder catching Gausman today

Snyder catching Gausman today
As you were told yesterday, Chris Snyder is behind the plate today for Kevin Gausman's third major league start. Snyder and Gausman watched video together yesterday while preparing for the start. Chris Dickerson is the designated hitter again today and Ryan Flaherty remains at second base. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Chris Dickerson DH J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Chris Snyder C Kevin Gausman RHP Nick Markakis is...

Orioles sign Rauch to minor league deal

Orioles sign Rauch to minor league deal
The Orioles have signed 6-foot-11 pitcher Jon Rauch to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. He will report to the Tides on Monday. Rauch, 34, was 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in 15 relief appearances with the Miami Marlins this season, with 23 hits allowed, seven walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings. Rauch has played for eight major league teams, including Montreal/Washington, over parts of 11 seasons. He's 43-40 with a 3.90 ERA. He posted a 3.59 ERA in 73 games with the...

Valencia in the lineup

Valencia in the lineup
Danny Valencia will serve as the designated hitter today, as the Orioles try to avoid being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards. Valencia is wearing No. 35. Steve Pearce is playing left field and Chris Snyder is catcher. Matt Wieters gets the day off despite being 6-for-11 with two home runs lifetime against Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore. Yamaico Navarro gets his third consecutive start at second base. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis...

Postgame comments from Showalter, Snyder, Davis and Machado

Postgame comments from Showalter, Snyder, Davis and Machado
MINNEAPOLIS - Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent most of his postgame session with the media this afternoon talking about Wei-Yin Chen's injury and whether it's regarded as serious at this point. Showalter is being optimistic. That's the only approach he's going to take until finding out more about the injury on Monday. "I was just talking to him about it," Showalter said following a 6-0 victory over the Twins. "He just felt it the last two or three pitches. I didn't hear oblique,...

Davis dials long distance with pink bat (Jones does, too)

Davis dials long distance with pink bat (Jones does, too)
MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning last night. They scored two in the first inning today, and those runs came off the pink bat of first baseman Chris Davis. Davis hit the batter's eye in center field with a two-run shot off Twins left-hander Scott Diamond that traveled an estimated 442 feet and gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Players are wearing pink spikes and arm bands today to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. A few of them are using pink bats, including...

Orioles option Britton, DFA Exposito

Orioles option Britton, DFA Exposito
The Orioles announced a flurry of roster moves before tonight's game in Seattle. They officially recalled former UMBC pitcher Zach Clark from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned left-hander Zach Britton to the Tides. Also, the Orioles purchased catcher Chris Snyder's contract and designated catcher Luis Exposito for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster. And finally, the Orioles reinstated pitcher Steve Johnson from the disabled list and optioned him to Norfolk. Clark, 29, is 1-2 with...

Notes on Snyder, Garcia and Bundy (and Charlie Zill)

Notes on Snyder, Garcia and Bundy (and Charlie Zill)
New Orioles catcher Chris Snyder is expected to meet up with the Orioles tonight in Seattle, but his contract won't be selected until Tuesday, which allows Luis Exposito to serve in a backup role for one more game. The Orioles will need to create room on their 40-man roster, which also could impact Exposito. Stay tuned. Executive vice president Dan Duquette has been interested in Snyder since joining the Orioles' front office. He considered signing Snyder the past two winters and again in...

Orioles acquire Chris Snyder (updated)

Orioles acquire Chris Snyder (updated)
The Orioles didn't wait long to find another backup catcher. According to a text message from executive vice president Dan Duquette, the Orioles have acquired catcher Chris Snyder from the Los Angeles Angels for reliever Rob Delaney in a minor league deal. Update: The Orioles and Angels both announced the trade. Snyder, 32, could join the Orioles in Seattle on Monday night, according to Duquette, and will have his contract selected this week. Luis Exposito, who met up with the club in...

Johnson discusses Nats' 5-3 loss in spring opener

Johnson discusses Nats' 5-3 loss in spring opener
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - If Stephen Strasburg wasn't going to harp on the negatives from his spring opener, manager Davey Johnson sure wasn't. The Nationals skipper knew that Strasburg would be throwing mostly fastballs, and he knew that Mets hitters would be looking to tee off. This early in spring, Johnson was mainly happy that Strasburg made it through his two innings and was able to get his full work in. "I thought he threw the ball all right," Johnson said. "He kind of jumped a little...

Nats add to catching depth, sign Snyder to minor league deal (Nats sign Accardo)

Nats add to catching depth, sign Snyder to minor league deal (Nats sign Accardo)
Of all the positions on the diamond, the Nationals might have the most organizational depth at catcher. Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos appear poised to make up one of the most talented catching duos at the major league level, and waiting in the wings on the farm, the Nats have Jhonatan Solano, Sandy Leon and Carlos Maldonado, ready to step in if needed. But with Ramos coming back from major knee surgery, the Nationals aren't willing to take any chances. That's why they've signed veteran...