Hard name to spell, tough guy to hit
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When spring training 2023 began we didn’t know how big a factor he would be on the Orioles last season. Okay, that was because he wasn’t even on the team yet. Later we struggled to pronounce his name and those of us that had to write it may have taken a while to spell it without looking it up. But lefty reliever Danny Coulombe (say it KOO-lohm) sur
More on Gibson's departure and what it says about Orioles' rotation plans
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Cardinals signing of Kyle Gibson to a one-year, $12 million deal with an option didn’t shed much light on the Orioles’ plans for their rotation. Those intentions already are illuminated. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias wants an upper-level starter for the rotation. Gibson is a great guy who put up some good numbers in 2023,
Quick take on Gibson's agreement with Cardinals (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles were expected to find a new Opening Day starter in 2024, whether from outside the organization or by choosing one of their returnees. Now, they’re assured of doing it. Kyle Gibson reached agreement today on a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that includes an option for 2025, per a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, with
Nats' Hall of Fame moment will come some day
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
The Hall of Fame’s 2024 ballot was revealed Monday, with 12 new candidates joining 14 returning candidates up for this year’s election by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The list includes several first-timers with compelling cases: Adrián Beltré, Chase Utley, Joe Mauer. Headlining the group of returning candidates are Todd
O's could potentially be a good trade partner for this pitcher
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If the Orioles are going to add a pitcher that can work in the top half of their rotation and do it without spending a massive amount of dollars, then right-hander Dylan Cease may be a good target. Cease, who turns 28 on Dec. 28, has two years of team control remaining before free agency and the Chicago White Sox have him on the market. A recent re
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles starter Dean Kremer fell short of achieving Super 2 status and becoming eligible for arbitration. The cutoff was set at two years and 118 days of service time, down from two years and 128 days in 2022. Kremer missed it this year at two years and 112 days. The season was mostly a success for Kremer, who finished 13-5 with a 4.12 ERA in a car
Maybe MLB free agent floodgates will open after a key signing on Sunday
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Former Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail used to say pitching is “expensive and fragile.” Two cautionary words about spending big for a hurler. That didn’t keep the Philadelphia Phillies from keeping one of their homegrown pitchers on Sunday and the expensive part was definitely on display. Over the last three years, right-hander Aaron Nola is
How the rest of the NL East figures into Nats' rebuild
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
When gauging where the Nationals stand in their rebuilding efforts, the simplest answer is to look at their won-loss record since the process began. They went 65-97 in 2021 while starting to tear down the roster. They bottomed out at 55-107 in 2022 after trading Juan Soto. Then they started the climb back up toward contention with a 71-91 record th
Revisiting notes on Mateo, McCann, Mullins, Pérez, Rutschman and Urías
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Time to revisit more notes from the 2023 season. And not just the facts. Here’s another attempt to expand on them. Stretching the truth. Fact: Jorge Mateo became the first player in Orioles history and the eighth in the majors since at least 1901 with multiple stolen bases in a team’s first two games of the season. He also became the first player i
Sykora has high ceiling as high school draft pick
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
PROSPECT REVIEW: TRAVIS SYKORA Age on opening day 2024: 19 How acquired: Drafted in third round in 2023 from Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas Ranking: No. 11 per MLB Pipeline, No. 11 per Baseball America MLB ETA: 2027* Projected by MLB Pipeline Signing bonus: $2.6 million 2023 levels: Rookie-level Florida Complex League 2023 stats: 7-0,