Friday morning Nats Q&A
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
A very pleasant good morning to you, wherever you may be! After a slow start to the offseason, the Nationals have started to make some news in recent days, signing Nick Senzel to play third base and Dylan Floro to deepen their bullpen. There remain several more positions of need, of course, with first base, left field and rotation depth very much o
Here is a chance to see a host of O's prospects on the field together at one time
Steve Melewski
Orioles
They will be playing in a game that doesn’t count, and it won’t even be a nine-inning game. But in mid-March at spring training in one game, we will be able to see many, maybe even just about all, of the Orioles' top young prospects on the field at one time. It is a cool concept called “Spring Breakout,” a four-day event from March 14-17 in which e
Leftovers for breakfast
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles still haven’t announced their coaching staff for the 2024 season, though executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed at the Winter Meetings the hiring of Drew French as pitching coach. One of the two vacancies filled. An assistant pitching coach is expected to be named as Darren Holmes’ replacement. Bench coach Fredi G
Floro seeks pre-2023 form with some changes to approach
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
Dylan Floro has heard the explanations, seen the analytics, understands why there’s ample evidence his performance in 2023 was better than the final stats suggest. He also knows the stats tell the truth about how he pitched this season. “It wasn’t a good year for me, I know that,” the veteran reliever said Wednesday during an introductory Zoom call
Now in the NL, Ohtani can chase Frank Robinson for MVP history
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Now that he has moved from the American League to the National League, if Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers wins an MVP award while wearing Dodger blue, he will join the one and only one player in baseball history to have won MVP awards in both leagues. That player is former Oriole Frank Robinson, who won the NL MVP with Cincinnati in 1961 a
More reflection on Orioles playoff ouster and moving on from it (Birdland Caravan returns)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
More than two months have passed since the Orioles lost to the Rangers in the Division Series. The first sweep by an opponent since May 2022. The finality knocking the sounds out of the visiting clubhouse at Globe Life Field, leaving players sitting in silence at their lockers. The hurt lessens for some but the mind can’t forget. “It hasn't eased f
Senzel assured everyday third base spot
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
The Nationals went to last week’s Winter Meetings in Nashville with a list of needs that included an everyday third baseman. They left Thursday morning after signing former Reds utilityman Nick Senzel for $2 million plus an extra $1 million in incentives. Senzel, 28, was non-tendered by the Reds last month after slashing .236/.297/.399 with a .696
Why Floro is a bounceback candidate, and why Downs was DFA
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
If you missed the news late Tuesday afternoon, the Nationals announced three transactions. One of them (the signing of third baseman Nick Senzel for $2 million plus incentives) was no surprise, having previously been reported. One of them (the signing of reliever Dylan Floro for $2.25 million plus incentives) was unexpected, because nobody had prev
Trying to guard against regression in the rotation in 2024
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles rotation – whether they add to it this offseason or not – just might be good enough now to take another run at an American League East championship. Currently, I expect that four members of that rotation look firm: Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means and Dean Kremer. A fifth or even someone that could bump someone else out of th
González on Kimbrel: “He’s a great acquisition for us and I think he’s going to fit in perfectly in the clubhouse”
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Fredi González can speak from experience about reliever Craig Kimbrel. About the new Orioles closer whose manager during his 2011 rookie season was the current team’s bench coach. “I haven’t seen him since ’14,” González warns during an interview yesterday with MASNsports.com, “but those first four years I had him, for being so young, he was a squa