Buck Britton finally gets major league call, McDermott confident in quick return from lat injury

SARASOTA, Fla. – Zack Britton reports to Orioles spring training in two days to serve as a guest instructor. His older brother is excited to see him again. They have lots to talk about beyond their families. Buck Britton spent the last three seasons as Triple-A Norfolk manager before the Orioles promoted him this winter to major league coach. He be
Orioles

Nationals agree to terms with Paul DeJong

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with infielder Paul DeJong (de-Young) on a one-year contract and transferred Josiah Gray to the 60-day Injured List on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. DeJong, 31, joins the Nationals after he hit .227 with 17 doubles, 24 home runs, 56 R
Masn Nationals

Nats sign veteran infielder DeJong for $1 million (updated)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals’ search for more power has landed on a former All-Star shortstop who will now be asked to play third base in D.C. The Nats signed Paul DeJong to a one-year, $1 million contract this morning, adding the veteran infielder to a roster lacking in experience and proven home run power. The 31-year-old passed his phys
Masn Nationals

Perfectionist Gore ready to reach new heights

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In a sport full of perfectionists, MacKenzie Gore rises above the fray. The Nationals left-hander expects the absolute best from himself, beats himself up when he doesn’t live up to that standard and always seeks improvement no matter how well his last start went. This isn’t a recently learned trait for Gore. He didn’t just

Masn Nationals

Kjerstad's big chance, O'Neill's modified workouts, Eflin and Sugano control artists, more from Chirinos

SARASOTA, Fla. – Heston Kjerstad sat quietly at his locker yesterday morning, staring at his phone with legs stretched out and empty chairs on both sides of him. An isolated figure. Pretty much how he likes it. Kjerstad isn’t anti-social. He just doesn’t command a lot of attention in a clubhouse with some extremely high-profile young players. The b
Orioles
Nats running PFP drills at game speed, preaching better results
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The early days of spring training are defined by two time-honored morning drills: Bullpen sessions and pitchers’ fielding practice. The former draws most of the attention, because it’s an opportunity to see pitchers work on their primary craft. But the latter, while mundane, matters quite a bit. And that’s especially true fo
Basallo blasts baseballs in BP, Morton impressed with young catcher, Sugano speaks, Chirinos caught up in coaching
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – Samuel Basallo swung at the first pitch thrown today by starter Charlie Morton and sent a chopper to a vacated second base area in a live batting practice session. The 20-year-old kid was beaten by the savvy 41-year-old veteran, and it happened in the blink of an eye or the tearing of an imaginary ticket stub. Basallo faced Morton
Nationals win arbitration case against Lowe
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals learned today they won their arbitration case against first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a source familiar with the decision confirmed. Lowe will make $10.3 million this season, the highest salary on the team’s current 2025 roster. He was seeking $11.1 million. Acquired from the Rangers for reliever Robert Garcia in
O'Neill explains why he signed with Orioles, Eflin and Sugano report to camp, McDermott sidelined with lat injury
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – The decision to sign with the Orioles came easily to outfielder Tyler O’Neill. It wasn’t just the money, though the idea of being paid $49.5 million over three seasons with an opt-out clause after the first year enticed him. “It was always chasing Baltimore last year,” he said. O’Neill caught them via contract negotiations. He spen
Slimmer Ruiz determined to put 2024 struggles behind him
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Ask Keibert Ruiz what he thought of his 2024 season, and the Nationals catcher doesn’t mince words. “I was really disappointed with my season last year,” he said. “It wasn’t good, you know? I wasn’t happy.” Ruiz then immediately flips the switch and turns his attention toward the upcoming season, one he can’t wait to get sta
What does Mateo's injury mean for the position player battle?
Brendan Mortensen
Masn
Heston Kjerstad’s reputation is that of a powerful slugger from the left side of the plate. So would you believe me if I told you that he and Jackson Holliday had the exact same career minor league batting average? Or that Kjerstad’s .387 on-base percentage was just three points below Adley Rutschman’s down on the farm? The Arkansas product has pro
Spring training this, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – Where some people see a logjam, Coby Mayo sees a fighting chance. Seven infielders, six infielders, it doesn’t matter to Mayo. He isn’t expecting to spend his 2025 season riding buses in Triple-A. “I think I’ve said this last year, I think an opportunity will present itself if you can show out and if I can do what I can do,” Mayo s
Gray, Thompson waiting for green light to pitch off mound again
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The 30 pitchers in big league camp for the Nationals bounce around from practice field to practice field, working on various fundamental drills, all of them participating, all of them encouraging each other. But when it comes time to throw off the bullpen mounds, two of those 30 pitchers are forced to stand off to the side a
"Nervous" Ogasawara impresses Nats on first day in camp
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – He arrived from Japan late Thursday night, exhausted from the long flight and time change, but determined nonetheless to be in the Nationals clubhouse by 8 a.m., then on the practice fields a couple hours later for his first bullpen session as a major leaguer. And with a bank of cameras, reporters, fans and even one Japanese
Mullins taking "business as usual" approach in camp with free agency nearing
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – Cedric Mullins is the last man standing, and running, among the trio of young outfielders who made their way from the minors to Camden Yards. Austin Hays was traded to the Phillies last summer and he signed with the Reds as a free agent. Anthony Santander received a five-year deal with the Blue Jays. Mullins is approaching his own
       
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