Like his team, Sánchez turned season around and won big
Like his team, Sánchez turned season around and won big
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Aníbal Sánchez, who (much like the team as a whole) completely turned his season around after a wretched start. PLAYER REVIEW: ANÍBAL SÁNCHEZ Age on opening day 2020: 36 How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2018 MLB service time: 13 years, 83 days 2019 salary: $8 million ($2 million deferred to 2021) Contract status: Signed for $9...
Mountcastle's next goal is to make opening day roster
Mountcastle's next goal is to make opening day roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Making the 40-man roster was the easy part for Ryan Mountcastle, the Orioles' fourth-ranked prospect per MLB.com and the No. 2 position player behind catcher Adley Rutschman, who leads the pack after being the first-overall pick in this year's First-Year Player Draft. Mountcastle faces a much stiffer challenge trying to make the club out of spring training. This is where he loses slam-dunk status. The Orioles protected Mountcastle before the Rule 5 draft. They might continue to protect him by...
A look back: The 40-man roster, Frederick on list of 42 and more
A look back: The 40-man roster, Frederick on list of 42 and more
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In looking back at the last week of stories here, we discussed a few interesting topics. Today we present a few of these for further discussion. * They included the Single-A Frederick Keys being named as one of 42 minor league teams that could lose their big league affiliations. The Keys have been an O's affiliate since 1989 and they do quite well at the gate. Frederick has ranked first or second in Carolina League attendance the last eight years. MASNsports.com interviewed Frederick owner Ken...
More from Bleier on leadership and his struggles
More from Bleier on leadership and his struggles
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Beyond the ground balls he can induce and the outs he can coax in the late innings, especially versus left-handed hitters, Orioles reliever Richard Bleier also has become a leader in a bullpen that tends to attract inexperienced pitchers trying to become established major leaguers. Bleier just completed his fourth season, though he appeared in only 23 games as a rookie with the Yankees in 2016 and 31 with the Orioles in 2018 before undergoing lat surgery. He's become a go-to guy both on and...
Looking at a few more free agent pitchers
Looking at a few more free agent pitchers
Steve Melewski
Orioles
There are nearly 50 starting pitchers available as baseball free agency is now underway. We know the Orioles need starting pitchers and we also know they won't be diving into the deep end of that pool or issuing any big-dollar contracts. In the early stages of the rebuild, they may not even sign anyone to anything longer than a one-year deal and no doubt some minor league free agents will be added for depth as well. While lefty Keegan Akin, added to the Orioles' 40-man roster this week,...
Corbin lives up to the hype in first season with Nats
Corbin lives up to the hype in first season with Nats
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Patrick Corbin, who in his first year in D.C. made exactly the kind of impact the club hoped he would. PLAYER REVIEW: PATRICK CORBIN Age on opening day 2020: 30 How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2018 MLB service time: 7 years, 105 days 2019 salary: $12.5 million (plus $2.5 million signing bonus) Contract status: Signed for $19 million in 2020,...
Duffy's World Series "word art" features Zimmerman's joyful celebration
Duffy's World Series "word art" features Zimmerman's joyful celebration
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
As he was searching for a focus for his latest installment in his "The Road to the World Series" collection, Philadelphia artist Dan Duffy saw the image of Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman celebrating after the last out that secured a Game 7 victory over the Astros and a Fall Classic championship and knew he'd found the perfect starting point. Zimmerman, who had seen the highs and lows of a franchise that made him its first draft pick in 2005, stopped on the Minute Maid Park field...
Braymer excited to join 40-man, details adjustments during 2019 season
Braymer excited to join 40-man, details adjustments during 2019 season
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Left-hander Ben Braymer got a thrilling phone call on Wednesday from the Nationals telling him he had been placed on the organization's 40-man roster. "I was super excited," Braymer said. "I thought I might have an opportunity for that to happen but when I got the call (Wednesday) morning, I was very, very excited. A lot of positive emotions. It was cool." In part one of our visit with Braymer (Twitter: @B_Braymer), we break down his move to Triple-A and the adjustments he had to make in a...
Strasburg delivered just in time to merit huge payday
Strasburg delivered just in time to merit huge payday
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Stephen Strasburg, who made it through a full season healthy for the first time in five years and then topped it off with a history-making postseason. PLAYER REVIEW: STEPHEN STRASBURG Age on opening day 2020: 31 How acquired: First-round pick, 2009 draft MLB service time: 9 years, 118 days 2019 salary: $35 million Contract status: Free agent after opting...
Bleier: "I still think I provide value to the team"
Bleier: "I still think I provide value to the team"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles reliever Richard Bleier knows one thing about his status on the club entering an arbitration year. He's eligible for arbitration. That's it. Bleier isn't certain that he'll be tendered a contract by the Dec. 2 deadline. He can't say that he's definitely in the bullpen in 2020 and only waiting now to learn about his salary. MLBTradeRumors.com projects Bleier at $1.1 million after he made $572,500 in the worst season of his major league career. A rebuilding team shedding payroll...