The Washington Nationals today announced an agreement with Costa Media, extending the official Spanish-language radio broadcast partnership through the 2027 season. During the Nationals’ upcoming season, fans can tune in to DC 87.7 FM and La Pantera WFAX 100.7 FM/1220 AM for live Spanish-language broadcasts for both home and away games, with in-game play-by-play analysis, 15-minute pre- and postgame shows, in-depth organizational reporting and player interviews.

“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the Nationals organization and deliver first-class Spanish-language play-by-play to the DMV Latino community,” said Jose Villafane, Founder and Managing Partner of Costa Media.

Luciano Rodríguez and Gustavo Salazar will once again team up and return to the Nationals’ Spanish-language radio booth for the upcoming 20^th Anniversary season. Rodríguez, a Venezuelan native, provides play-by-play and is a 40-year veteran of D.C. Latin sports broadcasts. He began his Spanish-language radio career in the late 1980s at WILC 900 AM, and in 1993, became the first Spanish-language color commentator for the Baltimore Orioles. From 2005 to 2015, he worked for SiriusXM as a Spanish-language host, commentator and producer covering baseball and other sports. Born in Bolivia, Salazar serves as the color analyst and producer. A third-generation broadcaster, Salazar’s family has combined for nearly 100 years in the Latin broadcast industry. Salazar was an integral part of CBS Radio and iHeart Radio’s Latino radio market growth in D.C. and Philadelphia, and from 2013 to 2022, he served as a Spanish radio broadcaster for the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, including calling the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII championship season.

The continued partnership with Costa Media is an extension of the Nationals’ ongoing engagement with the area’s Spanish-speaking community. Each season, the Nationals celebrate the rich history and culture during Hispanic Heritage Day at Nationals Park. In 2024, the Nationals held its first-ever dual-language Spanish/English Q&A session with Salazar and Nationals players on Hispanic Heritage Day. Additionally, Manager Dave Martinez shows his appreciation for his Hispanic roots through his Davey’s Dugout initiative – a monthly event held during the season that invites families and individuals of Hispanic heritage to join a special Q&A with Martinez and Spanish-speaking players, as well as stay to enjoy that day’s game.

For more information on Costa Media, visit costa-media.com and nats.com.

The Nationals’ projected Opening Day outfield has long been set. Barring some unforeseen development, James Wood and Dylan Crews will man the corners, with Gold Glove Award finalist Jacob Young in center field.

That’s the same outfield the Nats used throughout the final month-plus of the season, from the moment they promoted Crews from Triple-A Rochester to make his major league debut. And none of the three got much time off down the stretch. Aside from a handful of Joey Gallo appearances in right field, the starting trio all played together every night through season’s end.

There’s not much reason to believe that will change heading into the coming season. Wood and Crews, obviously, are two of the top prospects in baseball. Aside from an occasional day off here and there, they’re going to be in the lineup all the time. The same is probably true for Young, provided he produces enough offense to go along with his stellar defensive work.

Which brings us to today’s question: Who’s going to be the fourth outfielder, and do the Nationals need to devote much time and energy to answering that question?

At the moment, there are three other full-time outfielders on the club’s 40-man roster: Alex Call, Stone Garrett and Robert Hassell III. Infielders Amed Rosario, Darren Baker and perhaps Josh Bell could also play the outfield in a pinch, though none would figure to see regular playing time out there.

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher ANDREW KITTREDGE on a one-year contract for the 2025 season with a club option for 2026.

Kittredge, 34, was 5-5 with one save and a 2.80 ERA (22 ER/70.2 IP) with 60 hits (10 HR), 26 total runs, 20 walks (2 IBB), and 67 strikeouts in a career-high 74 appearances, all in relief, with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024. His 37 holds set the Cardinals single-season record and led the National League, one behind Houston’s Bryan Abreu for the MLB high. Kittredge’s 74 games ranked fifth in the NL. Last season was his first full year since 2021 after undergoing right elbow UCL surgery (Tommy John) in June of 2022 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kittredge is 23-12 with 16 saves, 52 holds, and a 3.44 ERA (109 ER/285.1 IP) with 268 hits (38 HR), 123 total runs, seven hit batters, 76 walks (13 IBB), and 273 strikeouts in 255 career games (15 starts) over eight seasons between the Cardinals and Rays. He’s posted a 2.48 ERA (48 ER/174.0 IP) since 2021, tied for the seventh-best ERA in the majors among players with at least 150 appearances during that time. He was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Washington on August 25, 2011. Tampa Bay acquired him along with two players from Seattle in exchange for Taylor Motter and Richie Shaffer on November 18, 2016. He elected free agency following the 2020 season before signing back with the Rays on a minor league deal on December 16, 2020. Kittredge made Tampa Bay’s Opening Day roster in 2021 and was an American League All-Star after posting a 1.47 ERA (7 ER/43.0 IP) through the break that season. St. Louis acquired him from Tampa Bay in exchange for Richie Palacios on January 5, 2024.

To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher BLAKE HUNT has been designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The weekend-long tour returns from January 30-February 1 to bring Orioles baseball directly to fans throughout the region

The Orioles today announced the return of the club’s ‘Birdland Caravan,’ a three-day winter tour, that will take place from Thursday, January 30, through Saturday, February 1, at multiple locations throughout the region. The celebration will include pop-up photo opportunities at surprise locations, community projects, mascot meet and greets, happy hours, and bowling. New to 2025, fans can participate in Karaoke Happy Hour at PBR Baltimore, along with new youth events like the Rip & Play Event at Bel Air Sports Cards, Orioles PLAY BALL Rookie Clinic, and a new family-friendly, interactive Kids Rally.

Current Orioles players participating in select events include COLTON COWSER, GUNNAR HENDERSON, JACKSON HOLLIDAY, CHAYCE McDERMOTT, RYAN MOUNTCASTLE, RYAN O’HEARN, CADE POVICH, ADLEY RUTSCHMAN, ALBERT SUÁREZ, and JORDAN WESTBURG. Additionally, Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager MIKE ELIAS and Manager BRANDON HYDE will attend select events throughout the weekend. 

Designed to take the Oriole Park experience directly to the fans, Birdland Caravan will make stops throughout Maryland including Baltimore, Bel Air, Columbia, Ellicott City, Halethorpe, and Severn, along with three additional surprise locations in Frederick, Harford, and Montgomery Counties. Fans in Pasadena and Westminster will also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the Oriole Bird, Mr. Splash, and the Camden Franks. 

New this year, tickets are required for several key events, including the Kids Rally in Severn, the Bowling Experience at Bowlero Columbia, Orioles PLAY BALL Rookie Clinic in Ellicott City, Rip & Play Event at Bel Air Sports Cards, and all happy hours. This marks an exciting update to enhance the experience and ensure a smooth process for participants. All profits from 2025 Birdland Caravan events will benefit the Orioles Charitable Foundation, supporting impactful community initiatives and programs. Fans must purchase tickets in advance as availability will be limited. Tickets are now on sale and available at Orioles.com/Caravan.  

Though the approach has been somewhat methodical, the Nationals have addressed their most obvious needs so far this winter. They acquired a first baseman and a designated hitter, hopefully adding more power to a lineup that sorely needs it. They acquired one experienced starting pitcher and re-acquired another, giving them rotation depth with at least six (maybe seven) candidates for Opening Day jobs.

And then finally over the weekend they made the first move to address the last remaining obvious hole: the bullpen. In signing right-hander Jorge López for $3 million, they added an experienced late-inning arm to a relief corps woefully short on such things.

That shouldn’t be the end of Mike Rizzo’s to-do list, though. There should be more bullpen moves to come before pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach in a mere four weeks.

López is a solid addition, a soon-to-be 32-year-old with 31 career saves, an All-Star selection as recently as 2022 and a 2.89 ERA in 52 games last season with the Mets and Cubs. He fits right into the same mold as Derek Law and Dylan Floro, two experienced right-handers who signed similar deals last winter. (Law’s was officially a minor league contract, but he was a lock to make the club as long as he was healthy.)

Law, of course, returns, having just agreed to a $2.75 million salary to avoid arbitration. Floro is long gone, having been traded to the Diamondbacks in July for Andres Chaparro. In a perfect world, López would take over that role, which would carry some extra irony considering the Twins traded him to the Marlins for Floro less than two years ago.

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Jorge López on a one-year contract and designated right-handed pitcher Amos Willingham for assignment on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

López, 31, joins the Nationals after he went 2-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 50 strikeouts and four saves in 52 relief appearances last season between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. He worked 39 scoreless appearances, including 14 consecutive from July 11 to August 16. That 16.0-inning scoreless streak was tied for the 10^th-longest by a National League reliever in 2024.

An American League All-Star in 2022, López has pitched in parts of nine Major League seasons with Milwaukee (2015, 2017-18), Kansas City (2018-20), Baltimore (2020-22, 2023), Minnesota (2022-23), Miami (2023), New York (NL) (2024) and Chicago (NL) (2024). He is 24-43 with a 5.25 ERA, 31 saves and 468 strikeouts in 282 career games (58 starts). Since transitioning to the bullpen full-time in 2022, López is 12-12 with a 3.74 ERA, 30 saves, 21 holds and 171 strikeouts in 183.0 innings.

López was originally selected by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Caguas Military Academy in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

The initial reaction for many to the Nationals and Nathaniel Lowe filing for arbitration Thursday night was one of incredulity. This is really how they’re going to treat their biggest offseason acquisition, by haggling over money and taking him to court?

It’s admittedly not a great look when a team can’t work out a contract with any player and has to rely on the arbitration process to determine that player’s salary. Even more so when that player is brand new and doesn’t already have some kind of established relationship with the club.

But let’s not get too worked up about this. It may not look great on the surface, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s actually not that uncommon. And there’s a decent chance this saga doesn’t even end with a hearing.

The Nationals had six arbitration-eligible players they needed to work out 2025 salaries with before Thursday’s deadline. They managed to settle on deals with five of the six: Luis García Jr., MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, Derek Law and Riley Adams. They could not get a deal done with Lowe, the 29-year-old first baseman acquired from the Rangers last month for reliever Robert Garcia.

So the two sides had to formally file for arbitration, with Lowe seeking a salary of $11.1 million and the Nats countering with an offer of $10.3 million, according to MLB.com. A hearing will be set for early February, with a three-judge panel ultimately deciding which side wins.

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell on a one-year contract on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Bell, 32, joins the Nationals after he hit .249 with 23 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs and 71 RBI in 145 games between the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024. He capped off the season by batting .304 with six doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 48 games after July 21.

Bell returns to Washington after he hit .278 with 48 doubles, four triples, 41 home runs and 145 RBI in 247 games with the Nationals between 2021 and 2022. During those two seasons, he hit .302 with 25 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs and 72 RBI in 125 games at Nationals Park.

A National League All-Star in 2019 and Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winner in 2022, the nine-year Major League veteran has hit .258 with 209 doubles, 19 triples, 171 home runs, 613 RBI, four stolen bases and 550 runs scored in 1147 career games.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Agreed to terms with LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Kyle Bradish, RHP Dean Kremer, INF Ryan Mountcastle, OF Cedric Mullins, LHP Trevor Rogers, C Adley Rutschman, LHP Gregory Soto, INF Ramón Urías, and RHP Tyler Wells on one-year contracts for the 2025 season, avoiding arbitration.

We are, believe it or not, five weeks away from spring training. The holiday season is over, we're well into January and Nationals pitchers and catchers are starting to make plans to report to West Palm Beach, Fla.

After an awfully slow start to their offseason, the Nats have made a decent amount of news here recently. They've now acquired five major league players in the last three weeks, trading for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, signing designated hitter Josh Bell and infielder Amed Rosario and signing right-handers Michael Soroka and Trevor Williams. Big splash? No, not yet. But they have addressed five real roster needs, with more likely to come in the next month.

Let's take this opportunity to get back to the Friday Q&A routine. If you've got something you'd like to ask, please submit your question in the comments section below. Then check back throughout the morning for my responses ...

It’s arbitration deadline day across Major League Baseball, the day when hundreds of players either agree with their clubs on 2025 salaries or file for arbitration.

The decisions made today don’t change the contractual status of any player. All are already under club control and don’t have the ability to leave. Teams can’t decide now to release them, having already announced plans to tender them contracts in November. The only thing determined today (or later, if cases go to arbitration) is the players’ salary figures for the upcoming season.

And yet, the way this day proceeds often tells us a lot about the relationship between players and teams, and whether the two sides value each other in a comparable way or not.

Who’s impacted by this deadline? It’s anyone with at least three years but fewer than six years of big league service time, plus the top 22 percent of players with at least two years of service time (the so-called “Super-2” players).

The Nationals entered the offseason with nine arbitration-eligible players: Kyle Finnegan, Luis Garcia Jr., Josiah Gray, Derek Law, MacKenzie Gore, Riley Adams, Ildemaro Vargas, Tanner Rainey and Mason Thompson. Finnegan and Rainey, however, were non-tendered, and Vargas was cut loose as well, bringing the number down to six.

Single game tickets to go on sale Thursday, January 16 and include expanded Bird Bath Splash Zone

The Orioles today announced that tickets for all 2025 regular season home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, excluding the Home Opener, will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, January 16, at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets, including for the Bird Bath Splash Zone, which will expand to include Sections 84 and 86, can be purchased at Orioles.com/Tickets. The club also announced its 2025 promotional schedule, which is highlighted by six bobbleheads, multiple t-shirt nights, an Orioles Bowling Shirt, Yacht Rock Cap, Cowboy Hat, Birdland Hawaiian Shirt, and the first-ever Star Wars Weekend.

Fans who subscribe to the free Orioles Insider email newsletter will receive an exclusive invitation to participate in an online pre-sale beginning Wednesday, January 15, at 10 a.m. Fans can subscribe online at Orioles.com/Newsletter. Due to high demand, tickets for the Orioles Home Opener on Monday, March 31, against the Boston Red Sox at 3:05 p.m. are available exclusively to Birdland Members. For more information, or to purchase a 2025 Birdland Membership, call 888-848-BIRD or visit Orioles.com/Memberships.

This year, giveaways will be available to fans of all ages, while supplies last, unless otherwise noted.

The bobbleheads will include Orioles Owner and Control Person DAVID RUBENSTEIN (April 19), COLTON COWSER (May 2) and GUNNAR HENDERSON (May 4) as part of Star Wars Weekend, GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ (May 31), JORDAN WESTBURG (July 28), and ADLEY RUTSCHMAN (September 24).

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with infielder Amed Rosario on a one-year contract and designated pitcher Joan Adon for assignment on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Rosario, 29, joins the Nationals after he hit .280 with 18 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 32 RBI, 13 stolen bases and 29 runs scored in 103 games between Tampa Bay, Los Angeles (NL) and Cincinnati in 2024. He began his season by recording 10 multi-hit games in his first 18 starts and finished the year with 26 multi-hit efforts in 82 starts.

A versatile defender, Rosario played 27 games at second base, 26 games in right field, 15 games at third base and 14 games at shortstop last season.

A veteran of parts of eight Major League seasons, the Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic, native is a career .273 hitter with 157 doubles, 46 triples, 63 home runs, 366 RBI, 109 stolen bases and 449 runs scored between New York (NL) (2017-20), Cleveland (2021-23), Los Angeles (NL) (2023-24), Tampa Bay (2024) and Cincinnati (2024). Rosario has played 766 games at shortstop, 63 games at second base, 26 games in right field, 18 games in center field, 15 games at third base and seven games in left field since his debut in 2017.

Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by New York (NL) in 2013, Rosario played his way onto the Baseball America top 100 prospect list beginning in 2015 and peaked at No. 8 in 2017.

Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, BRIAN MATUSZ.

A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face.

Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

The notion of scribbling out potential lineups for the 2025 Nationals has seemed pointless most of the offseason, because there were too many vacancies still to fill, vacancies in prime spots in the batting order.

It may still be too early to attempt this exercise, because more moves are possible between now and the first day of spring training, especially as it pertains to third base. But the recent additions of Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell did fill the two most significant holes in the lineup, so it’s not impossible to start thinking about Davey Martinez’s plan for his regular one through nine.

There’s no perfect order to arrange the current group, whether due to a lack of track record for some, a lack of recent power for others and an excess of left-handed hitters who are going to have to be stacked together by default. But here’s one possible look Martinez could consider for Opening Day against the Phillies …

1. SS CJ Abrams (L)
2. RF Dylan Crews (R)
3. LF James Wood (L)
4. 1B Nathaniel Lowe (L)
5. DH Josh Bell (S)
6. 2B Luis Garcia Jr. (L)
7. C Keibert Ruiz (S)
8. 3B Jose Tena (L)
9. CF Jacob Young (R)

The biggest question Martinez faces is at the top of his lineup. The Abrams-Crews-Wood trio is likely to occupy the top three slots, but the order isn’t necessarily a sure thing.

Josh Bell first came to the Nationals, not by choice, on Christmas Eve 2020. Traded to Washington by the Pirates franchise that drafted him nine years earlier, he quickly embraced the team and the town and openly spoke of his desire to stay here for the long haul.

That, of course, didn’t happen. And it again wasn’t by his choice. The Nats included Bell in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade, sending both stars to the Padres in exchange for a horde of prospects. And in the 2 1/2 years since, Bell bounced all around the sport.

He finally got to pick his destination as a free agent following the 2022 season and chose the Guardians, who offered him a two-year, $33 million deal. But within months he was traded again, this time to the Marlins. Who one year later shipped him to the Diamondbacks.

Now, at long last after a nomadic baseball existence, Bell finally got another chance to return to D.C. The Nationals were interested in bringing him back. He was interested in returning. And nearly four years to the day of that initial trade from Pittsburgh, he agreed to a new $6 million contract with the Nats, fulfilling a longstanding wish.

“When I initially got traded, I always told myself I was going to come back,” he said Monday in a Zoom conference call with reporters. “I understood the business part of the game, but different opportunities presented themselves. I kind of bounced around a little bit here and there. I was a little bit of a journeyman the last couple years. But I’m thankful for those opportunities. And when I reached free agency again this year, I talked to (agent Scott Boras) and he told me the Nats liked me. I said: ‘If you can make something happen, let’s do it.’”

The Baltimore Orioles today announced that DON ROVAK will join the organization as the Chief Revenue Officer, focusing on revenue generation through ticket and corporate sales in both Baltimore and Sarasota, Fla., and creating local economic impact for the city, state, and surrounding area.

“We are excited to have such an incredible talent and industry leader join the Orioles at such a thrilling time for our organization,” shared CATIE GRIGGS, Orioles President of Business Operations. “His expertise, passion, and creativity will be a tremendous asset to our club for years to come.”

Rovak joins the Orioles after just completing his 17^th year with AMB Sports and Entertainment, a company comprised of the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons, Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Drive GC, and PGA TOUR Superstore. With AMB Sports and Entertainment, Rovak’s responsibilities included Mercedes-Benz Stadium events, private events, and Falcons and Atlanta United ticket sales, service, and ticket operations departments.

Rovak has led the team that has sold out Mercedes-Benz Stadium for all Falcons games and United matches since its opening in 2017. He revolutionized benefits for Falcons season ticket members, including free tickets for road games, annual seat relocation, and pre-party invitations, among other enhancements. Under his supervision, in all seasons for Atlanta United, the team finished first in season tickets, group sales, and overall attendance. Additionally, Atlanta United holds many of the top single match attendance records in their short lifespan.

“I am thrilled to arrive in Baltimore, and to be a part of such a historic franchise with so much opportunity ahead,” shared Rovak. “I look forward to developing relationships with the fans and the corporate community as we embark on an exciting O’s season.”

You can be forgiven if you missed this news item while paying attention to football, snow prep or both on Sunday, but the Nationals officially announced the Josh Bell signing. That one-year, $6 million deal was agreed to one week earlier but wasn’t done-done until Bell passed his physical, which has now happened.

There’s an important side note to mention with this transaction. Bell’s addition now leaves the Nats’ 40-man roster entirely full for the first time in months. They had maneuvered their way to create four openings heading into the Winter Meetings in December, then proceeded to fill those spots with the signings of free agents Bell, Trevor Williams and Michael Soroka, the selection of Evan Reifert in the Rule 5 Draft and the one-for-one trade of Robert Garcia to the Rangers for Nathaniel Lowe.

What that means: If they want to acquire any more major league players this winter, the Nationals will first need to clear more 40-man spots to make that possible. Considering they are still woefully thin on experienced relievers, while also potentially still looking for a more established third baseman, it’s safe to say moves are forthcoming.

You never want to have to drop someone from the 40-man, but a scan of the Nats’ current roster reveals more than a few names who will probably be under consideration when the time comes.

Here’s a look at the full 40-man roster as it now stands, broken down by position …

It’s been a slow offseason, not only for the Nationals but across the sport. Though teams began to get more active before the holidays, hundreds of free agents remain unsigned as the calendar shifts to 2025.

This isn’t anything new; the market seems to get slower and slower each winter, with more and more players forced to wait until February (or even March) to find out where they’re going to play that season. And we could be headed down a similar path over the next two months.

We’ve talked about the players the Nats have added so far this offseason. We haven’t talked a lot about the players they lost. Most of them remained unsigned at this date, with Trevor Williams (who returned to the club on a new two-year deal last week) a notable exception.

Here’s a look at the seven other members of the 2024 Nationals who became free agents at season’s end, either because their contracts expired or the team decided to part ways with them …

JACOB BARNES
The veteran reliever became a free agent after going 8-3 with a 4.36 ERA in 63 games, serving in a variety of bullpen roles. Barnes, who turns 35 in April, hasn’t signed anywhere yet, with the market for relievers having yet to take off. The Nationals could show interest in bringing him back, though he may have to be willing to accept another minor league deal.

The Nationals entered the offseason knowing they needed to acquire a new first baseman. Then they went and essentially acquired two of them over the holidays.

Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell aren’t the same kind of player. Lowe is more well rounded, draws more walks and plays better defense. Bell is more of a prototypical, all-or-nothing slugger who can carry a lineup for weeks at a time but is typically a liability in the field.

So, the plan – as best as we can tell at this point – is for Lowe to be the everyday first baseman, with Bell assuming designated hitter duties. Given the strengths and weaknesses of these two, that seems to make the most sense.

What, though, becomes of the other first basemen/DH types already on the Nats roster?

The team had a bunch of them last season, with Joey Gallo, Joey Meneses and Juan Yepez each getting roughly equal playing time at first base (54 games, 50 games, 45 games, respectively) and Andrés Chaparro (12 games) also getting a look down the stretch.