A few power arms plus more catchers as international prospect rankings list concludes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It’s not necessarily the trade that keeps giving, but a deal where the Orioles seemingly did very well and that might be getting even better. On Aug. 2, 2022, the O’s dealt righty Jorge López, their closer having a big year, to Minnesota for four pitchers. So far right-hander Yennier Cano has become a late-inning bullpen weapon while lefty Cade Pov
Spring storylines: The kids are here at last
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – There admittedly hasn’t been a lot of juice at Nationals spring training in recent years. Such is life when you tear down the remnants of a championship roster and start over, recognizing it’s going to be a while until the fruits of your labor pay off. For the last two years, it felt like there was more reason to pay attenti
Taking Orioles rotation for another spin and playing the numbers game
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The next story posted here will have a Sarasota dateline. Get used to it. Orioles pitchers and catchers report today, with the first workout unfolding on Thursday, coinciding with the beginning of media access. Players will take their physicals and hit the fields. The sounds of baseball will puncture the silence. Bring on the suspense. The start bu
Spring storylines: More signings to come during camp?
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
One of the least eventful winters in Nationals history concludes today, spring officially commencing Wednesday when pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach, Fla., for their first workout of 2024. This offseason saw precious little action from the Nats. They added only four players on major-league contracts, signing Joey Gallo, Nick Senzel a
A lefty pitcher emerges at No. 2 as O's international prospect rankings list continues
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Today, as we continue to rollout the MASNSports.com top 20 O’s international prospects, we find out yet again that teams can get big talents sometimes out of modest signing bonuses. Some players sign late in the process as late bloomers and beyond that, it is just hard to project what someone at age 16 will look like and play like three, four, and
A few more Orioles spring training storylines
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
While most eyes will rest upon Jackson Holliday, other prospects, and major pitching additions Corbin Burnes and Craig Kimbrel at spring training, there are plenty of storylines to go around during those six weeks. Lots to fill notepads and space on laptop screens. Lots to keep fingers busy. Checking under the radar ideas can put a reporter over th
Source: Nats add veteran outfielder Winker on minor league deal
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
It didn’t happen until the second-to-last day of the offseason, but the Nationals finally added another potential bat to their 2024 lineup. The Nats have signed veteran outfielder Jesse Winker to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. Though he didn’t get a guaranteed con
Spring storylines: When will injured players be ready to play?
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
What was the most unexpected development of the Nationals’ 2023 season? How about the way they managed to keep the vast majority of their roster healthy? The Nats used only eight starting pitchers, and five of them topped 120 innings. Seven of their regular nine position players avoided the injured list altogether. Four relievers appeared in 50-plu
It was an easy call: Catcher Samuel Basallo is O's top international prospect
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It was not a tough call. There was no protracted debate. There was no brief debate. There was no debating at all.  Catcher Samuel Basallo, signed to a $1.3 million bonus, the largest bonus in the Orioles' 2021 international class, is once again the club’s No. 1 ranked international prospect. He tops our third annual MASNSports.com ratings of the to
Burnes' impact on Orioles bullpen and other camp competitions
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I’ve written about the end of a traditional spring training storyline, the blame falling upon the broad shoulders of James McCann. Only an injury can spark a debate over the identity of the backup catcher. It’s happening again with the Opening Day starter. The Orioles didn’t trade for Corbin Burnes to put him behind someone else in the rotation. Th