Looking at a few free agent options for back end of rotation
Looking at a few free agent options for back end of rotation
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Time to take a look at a few more free agent starting pitchers. No, we are not looking at the very best, not even close, but diving into the much more shallow end of the pool. It's an attempt to be realistic here and not get too far ahead of ourselves. Will there be a day when the Orioles look to sign or trade for a top starting pitcher? We sure hope so, but we're not there yet. In recent posts here and here, we looked at six pitchers that MLBTradeRumors.com listed in the category of older...
AFL season ends for Nats prospects with loss in championship
AFL season ends for Nats prospects with loss in championship
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Arizona Fall League came to a close Saturday night, with several Nationals prospects in the spotlight for the developmental league's championship game. The Surprise Saguaros, who had eight Nats on a roster managed by Single-A Fredericksburg's Mario Lisson, lost the championship to the Mesa Solar Sox, who pitched a combined one-hitter during a 6-0 victory in Scottsdale. Final game results aside, the last month proved valuable for many of the young players the Nationals sent to Arizona,...
Big win total not necessary for Cy Young winners
Big win total not necessary for Cy Young winners
Steve Melewski
Orioles
One thing that was somewhat noticeable this week when the Cy Young Award winners were announced was that neither pitcher that won had a lot of pitching wins for 2021. Wins for pitchers don't seem to have nearly the value they once did. The American League winner was Toronto's Robbie Ray. He went 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA that ranked first in the league over 193 1/3 innings with a 1.04 WHIP and .210 batting average against. The National League winner was Milwaukee's Corbin Burnes, who was 11-5...
Nats' long run of MVP contenders is nothing to scoff at
Nats' long run of MVP contenders is nothing to scoff at
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
This week of announcements of the Baseball Writers' Association of America annual awards was a disappointing one for the Nationals and their fans. They saw Juan Soto finish runner-up to Bryce Harper for the National League MVP Award, and they saw Max Scherzer finished third behind Corbin Burnes and Zack Wheeler for the NL Cy Young Award. It would've been nice had either Soto or Scherzer won, even nicer if both won. It would've helped make this otherwise miserable season for the Nats feel a...
After 40-man addition, does Bradish help rotation next year?
After 40-man addition, does Bradish help rotation next year?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles' 40-man roster filled up pretty fast. In a span of a few hours it went from 32 to 39 as the club acquired a player on waivers Friday and later added six of its own from the farm. The Orioles added infielder Lucius Fox on waivers from Kansas City. And then early last night the club announced the addition of six players from its farm system to the 40-man. This ensures those players cannot be taken in next month's Rule 5 draft. The club added five pitchers in DL Hall, Kyle Bradish,...
Leftovers for breakfast
Leftovers for breakfast
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Questions about Cedric Mullins' 2021 season usually begin with, "Did you ever imagine that ..." That he'd become the first player in Orioles history with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. That he'd make the All-Star team and start. That he'd be a unanimous winner of the Most Valuable Oriole award. Mark me down for no, no and no, and I say this in the comfort that I'm not alone. Finishing in the top 10 in Most Valuable Player voting in the American League is another...
Orioles claim Fox, add six players to 40-man roster
Orioles claim Fox, add six players to 40-man roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are protecting six players again in the Rule 5 draft that's scheduled for next month in Orlando, Fla., placing pitchers DL Hall, Kyle Bradish, Kevin Smith, Félix Bautista and Logan Gillaspie, and infielder Terrin Vavra on the 40-man roster at tonight's deadline. The day began with 32 openings, heavy subtractions made since the last game. The most recent transaction impacting the roster before today was the claiming of pitcher Bryan Baker off waivers from the Blue Jays on Nov....
Nationals add outfielder Casey, lefty Lee to 40-man roster
Nationals add outfielder Casey, lefty Lee to 40-man roster
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals chose to protect two prospects from being selected in next month's scheduled Rule 5 draft, adding both outfielder Donovan Casey and left-hander Evan Lee to their 40-man roster in advance of today's league-wide deadline. Casey and Lee were among the likeliest of the more than three dozen minor leaguers eligible for this year's Rule 5 draft to be protected by the Nationals, who did have room to add one more player to their 40-man roster but opted to leave that spot open for...
Nationals add Casey, Lee to 40-man roster
Nationals add Casey, Lee to 40-man roster
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Washington Nationals selected the contracts of outfielder Donovan Casey and left-handed pitcher Evan Lee on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Casey, 25, was Washington's Minor League Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after showing versatility and strong defensive ability following the trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that brought him to the organization. He is listed by Baseball America as the "Best Athlete" in...
Nats face 40-man roster decisions on deadline day
Nats face 40-man roster decisions on deadline day
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
One of baseball's key offseason deadlines arrives later today when all clubs must add eligible players to their 40-man rosters or leave them unprotected in next month's Rule 5 draft. It's not a day that garners a ton of headlines, but it's an important day nonetheless because it offers some clues about an organization's feelings about some of its prospects, which ones it believes have a future and which ones less so. And in the Nationals' case, there are several decisions to make before...