Decision time for Rule 5 draft protection
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
There really hasn’t been much reason to pay attention to the Rule 5 draft around here for a long time. The Nationals haven’t selected a player in the annual event since 2010, and they’ve had only one player poached from them since 2014. That’s probably going to change this winter. Because for the first time in a long time, the Nats own one of the f
Orioles adding players today to 40-man roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The shuffling of the 40-man roster, with some cards tossed out of the deck, grows louder with today’s deadline for setting it prior to the Dec. 7 Rule 5 draft in San Diego. The Orioles have met multiple times this week to finalize their list. They’ve created six openings, with the freedom to fashion more as they seek to add players from outside the
Nats release Romero after reported second DWI arrest
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Seth Romero’s tumultuous five years with the Nationals came to an unceremonious end this evening when the organization requested unconditional release waivers on the left-hander, one day after he reportedly was arrested for a DWI in his home state of Texas for the second time in 2022. Romero, 26, immediately comes off the Nationals’ 40-man roster,
Looking at a few O's potential free agent pitching targets
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The baseball free agent market is underway. And the Orioles' Mike Elias told my colleague Roch Kubatko that the market could move swiftly this winter. Maybe some things will even heat up before the Winter Meetings early next month. The Orioles are targeting pitching and hitting via both free agency and possibly trade routes also. "I think this is g
Looking at the Nats' organizational depth chart
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
As we wait for the Nationals to put their offseason plan – whatever that plan ends up being – into action, it’s probably instructive to take stock of what they already have in place. The organizational depth chart looks a whole lot different today than it did one year ago, and it basically bears zero resemblance to the one that existed two years ag
Rutschman's ranking in rookie voting revealed tonight (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The next round of awards are handed out this week, starting tonight with Rookie of the Year from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is a finalist in the American League with Cleveland’s Steven Kwan – his former college teammate – and Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez. Rodríguez already was chosen by The Sporting N
Levels of interest in Nats' free agents
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
The first full week of the official offseason is complete, and with that, the deadline for teams to negotiate with their respective free agents has passed. Thursday was the last day the Nationals had exclusive rights to re-sign any of their free agents before they became available to speak with other teams. Of their eight free agents, the Nats had
Does shortstop depth shift Orioles away from highest-priced free agents?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The launching of true free agency last week, with executives allowed to begin negotiations with representatives of players outside the organization, also ignited the annual offseason predictions, speculation and rumors that spread like weeds. The baseball media’s popular board game, matching player with team. A low-risk roll of the dice. The Athlet
O's hope these two pitchers keep taking steps forward in 2023
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Sure, the Orioles will be looking for a top-end rotation pitcher this winter, and maybe they actually add that guy or guys through free agency or via a trade. But their rotation hopes for 2023 also would include seeing two young pitchers that took steps forward last season building on that. Those pitchers are right-handers Dean Kremer, who went 8-7
Love and baseball
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
I’m going to steer away from the traditional baseball post and instead write a more sappy, personal one. Don’t worry, it still involves baseball. I’m getting married today. Those are crazy words to write, never mind say out loud. Don’t get me wrong: I’m very excited to get married. She’s the woman I fell in love with and will treasure forever. I ca