Baseball America Nats No. 1 prospect: 3B Carter Kieboom
Baseball America Nats No. 1 prospect: 3B Carter Kieboom
Byron Kerr
Nationals
No. 1 Carter Kieboom With All-Star Anthony Rendon moving on to the Angels this offseason, top Nationals prospect Carter Kieboom has an opportunity to take over at third base in 2020. Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk said prior to spring training that Kieboom has demonstrated he is worth the risk at that important spot. "I think he's certainly worth giving a chance," Lusk said. "But it's good to have that buffer with Asdrúbal Cabrera, sharing time at third. If that's the...
Nats may have to break up camp under new guidelines
Nats may have to break up camp under new guidelines
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
How many Nationals players are staying in West Palm Beach, Fla., during the coronavirus crisis, and what will their workouts look like? The answers to those questions have changed seemingly every day since Major League Baseball announced the halting of all spring training games Thursday. At first, the entire team intended to stay in place and continue to hold full-squad workouts - and maybe even scrimmages - during MLB's hiatus. Then the league notified players they were free to leave town,...
Williams exhibiting patience again while in holding pattern
Williams exhibiting patience again while in holding pattern
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Mason Williams had a chance to audition for the Orioles in September until crashing into a wall and injuring his knee. He made it through only 11 games. Williams had an opportunity in spring training to convince the Orioles that he should make the club as an extra outfielder, and perhaps the starter in right until Trey Mancini returns, but exhibition games were stopped and camps closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The importance of baseball competitions and roster decisions shrank as...
Monday morning Orioles Q&A
Monday morning Orioles Q&A
Steve Melewski
Orioles
No Sarasota dateline on this story. No spring competitions to track. No games to be played. The baseball industry is shut down for now and we all wait to find out when it will be back. Yes, it's possible, I guess, that the season could be shut down. I see no reason to be too concerned about that just yet. For now, as we await the next move and/or news, let's do another Orioles Q&A. Per usual, in the comments section, ask a question or make any comment on the team. Anything about the...
Strickland's release opens door for others to make roster
Strickland's release opens door for others to make roster
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It may feel trivial to discuss baseball right now, but even as the sport sits in hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Nationals made some baseball decisions Saturday. And so it's appropriate to discuss baseball matters. The club cut 13 players from major league camp. Twelve of those players (inlcuding pitchers Dakota Bacus, Bryan Bonnell, Wil Crowe, Aaron Barrett, Ben Braymer, Kyle McGowin and David Hernandez) weren't seriously expected to make the opening day roster. The other one,...
We're waiting and wondering: What comes next for MLB?
We're waiting and wondering: What comes next for MLB?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
So now what do we do? Everyone in baseball is asking that question today. From team officials and players, coaches and managers to fans and reporters. How do we go forward and what will we be writing about, wonder writers, reporters and columnists that cover the game. Here at this website, the offseason is actually pretty active for us. Roch Kubatko and I write stories pretty much every day and readers keep the blogs active with comments and questions. Will the next few weeks be just like an...
Latest on Orioles' spring fleeing and roster decisions
Latest on Orioles' spring fleeing and roster decisions
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Night turns to day and there isn't much clarity to the Orioles' plans moving forward since Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association provided three options for teams on Friday. As it pertains to the Orioles, they can: * Stay in Sarasota for informal workouts* Return home* Head to Baltimore for informal workouts Or can they? Personnel on the minor league side at Twin Lakes Park were told to stay. An email arrived early yesterday morning with those orders, a...
Roster moves include release of veterans Strickland, Hernandez
Roster moves include release of veterans Strickland, Hernandez
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals made a flurry of moves today, most notably giving veteran reliever Hunter Strickland his unconditional release. The Nats must pay about one-quarter of Strickland's $1.6 million contract. The team also released veteran pitcher David Hernandez. Strickland, 31, went 2-1 with a 5.55 ERA in 2019 over 28 games, with two saves. He appeared in two postseason games for the club, but allowed three homers in two innings for an 18.00 ERA. His connection to the Nats dated to his time with the...
An attempt to answer some pressing questions
An attempt to answer some pressing questions
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - These are strange times. Strange times with no real road maps to consult. Major League Baseball has dealt with work stoppages before, but those were strikes or lockouts or a one-week hiatus following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This is quite different. It's tempting right now to try to project what's going to happen in two weeks or two months. But the truth is, we have no idea what's going to happen in two days. Let's try to take a rational look at the...
Though free to leave, many Nats plan to stay and work out
Though free to leave, many Nats plan to stay and work out
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though Major League Baseball officially announced the immediate suspension of all spring training operations this evening, many Nationals players intend to remain here and conduct informal workouts during baseball's coronavirus-induced hiatus. MLB and the MLB Players Association, after meeting earlier today, jointly informed clubs that players are being encouraged to travel to either the team's home city or their own hometowns, though anyone who wants to stay in their...