Lester comes to D.C. with one goal in mind: "I want to win"
Lester comes to D.C. with one goal in mind: "I want to win"
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
He's won three championships for two iconic franchises, started Game 1 of the World Series, appeared in Game 7 of the Fall Classic and pitched in a bunch of postseason clinchers. He beat cancer. He's made nearly $200 million in career earnings. He'll never have to buy anyone another drink in Boston or Chicago (though he actually did buy a whole lot of people drinks in Chicago after the 2020 season). Jon Lester, suffice it to say, doesn't need to prove anything to anybody at this point in...
More on Galvis, Martin and shopping list
More on Galvis, Martin and shopping list
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The shortstop market unclogged in a hurry. Life comes at you fast. Daniel Robertson signed with the Brewers on Jan. 21 to get the ball rolling. Ehire Adrianza reached agreement with the Braves Tuesday afternoon on a minor league deal, the Blue Jays agreed to terms with Marcus Semien on an $18 million deal and the Twins agreed to terms with Andrelton Simmons on a $10.5 million contract. There was local interest here based on the Orioles' contact with representatives for Robertson and Adrianza,...
Nationals agree to terms with left-hander Jon Lester
Nationals agree to terms with left-hander Jon Lester
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with three-time World Series Champion and five-time All-Star left-handed pitcher Jon Lester on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Lester, 37, joins the Nationals after six seasons with the Chicago Cubs in which he went 77-44 with a 3.64 ERA in 171 starts. He won double-digit games and made at least 31 regular season starts in five of the six seasons...
Checking in with new O's shortstop Freddy Galvis
Checking in with new O's shortstop Freddy Galvis
Steve Melewski
Orioles
New Orioles shortstop Freddy Galvis hopes to play some quality defense for his new team and provide some pop in a ballpark where he enjoys hitting. He also brings a career marked by durability and wants to show that to his new club as well. From 2015 through 2019, he played in 151, 158, 162, 162 and 147 games. He had a consecutive games played streak of 349, then the longest in the majors, ending with Toronto on April 24, 2019. "I think it's really important," Galvis said during a Zoom...
Martin undergoing surgery on left hand (plus other notes)
Martin undergoing surgery on left hand (plus other notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Made available this afternoon to talk about the Freddy Galvis signing, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias shifted focus to another shortstop in the organization who's undergoing a second surgery. An unexpected piece of news dumped within a 20-minute interview. Elias revealed that Richie Martin broke the hamate bone in his left hand, apparently in a workout mishap over the weekend, and will undergo a procedure in Sarasota to remove it. Martin was expected to be ready...
On Hand's velocity, Lester's physical and Realmuto's signing
On Hand's velocity, Lester's physical and Realmuto's signing
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Some assorted news and notes for you on this Wednesday morning ... * Much has been made of Brad Hand's diminished fastball velocity last season, and it has been presented as perhaps cause for concern as the left-hander joins the back end of the Nationals bullpen. But is this anything to actually worry about? First, let's look at the numbers. Hand's four-seam fastball averaged 92.7 mph in 2019. It then dropped to 91.4 mph last season. That's not nothing. And yet, it should be noted hitters...
Eshelman on return: "It was ultimately what I wanted to do"
Eshelman on return: "It was ultimately what I wanted to do"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Thomas Eshelman is a new father with a new contract that keeps him tied to his old team. The Orioles re-signed Eshelman to a minor league deal three weeks ago, or about three weeks after the birth of his son, Trey. The foray into free agency led Eshelman back to his comfort zone. "Ultimately, the opportunity is one of the biggest (reasons), but also familiarity with everybody there," he said earlier this week in a phone conversation. "I've been there obviously for two years now and got to...
Another look at new O's infielder Freddy Galvis
Another look at new O's infielder Freddy Galvis
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the Orioles signed José Iglesias as their shortstop on Jan. 7, 2020, he had last played for the Cincinnati Reds. When they signed infielder Freddy Galvis to a one-year deal last night, he also joins the team from the Reds. Galvis was a free agent and signed for one year at $1.5 million per various reports with a bonus of $250,000 if he gets traded. For the 2020 Reds, over 47 games, he hit .220/.308/.404 with seven homers, 16 RBIs and an OPS of .712. In the last full season of 2019, he...
Orioles sign shortstop Freddy Galvis to one-year deal
Orioles sign shortstop Freddy Galvis to one-year deal
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles found their shortstop. As expected, they got him on the free agent market. The team announced tonight that it signed veteran Freddy Galvis to a one-year contract. Galvis is guaranteed $1.5 million, per a source, and can receive $250,000 if he's traded. The deal doesn't include an option. Galvis is the starting shortstop after the Orioles traded José Iglesias to the Angels on Dec. 2 for minor league pitchers Garrett Stallings and Jean Pinto. Iglesias was set to earn $3.5 million...
Orioles sign infielder Freddy Galvis
Orioles sign infielder Freddy Galvis
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles today announced that they have signed infielder Freddy Galvis to a one-year contract for the 2021 season. Galvis, 31, appeared in 47 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, making 31 starts at shortstop and 11 at second base. He posted a combined .977 fielding percentage between the two positions. He hit .220/.308/.404 (31-for-141) with seven home runs, 18 runs scored, and 16 RBI. In his last full season, in 2019, Galvis hit a career-high 23 home runs and recorded a career-high 70...