O's Matt Blood talks about the offense on the farm this past season
Steve Melewski
Orioles
During my recent conversation with Matt Blood, the O’s vice president, player development and domestic scouting, we spent much of the time discussing what happened on the O’s farm in 2024. He was honest to say the club was, to use his words “not celebrating” the farm offense from last season. Sure, a lot went right and players like Samuel Basallo a
Three more Orioles questions and curiosities for the 2025 season
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Questions come attached to the Orioles that can be answered before Opening Day, with others that need more time. Pretty much anything relating to the roster should become clearer by late March, but check back in October for the rest. There's no way to know until a season plays out. Here are three more examples. Can the Orioles get a full season out
Skipper Brandon Hyde talks about his new bench coach, Robinson Chirinos
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the Orioles recently announced their coaching staff for the 2025 season, one of the new hires was Robinson Chirinos, who will be the team’s bench coach. That is quite the entry into the coaching ranks for Chirinos, 40, whose last season playing in the majors was in 2022 for the Orioles. He played in 67 games for that O’s team, and in 220 plate
20 Greatest Players in Nats History (No. 11-15)
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
Thanks to everyone who read and commented on the first installment of our 20 Greatest Players in Nationals History series. If you missed it, click this link to find out who checked in at Nos. 16-20 before proceeding with this week’s piece featuring Nos. 11-15. Reminder: This is a purely subjective exercise. Stats were considered, of course, but gre
Sorting through more Orioles spring training storylines
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The countdown to spring training intensifies after the Winter Meetings and the start of a new year. The important dates leading up to it are fading. Arbitration figures are exchanged on Jan. 9 for eligible players who haven’t signed. The international signing period begins Jan. 15. Those are the big ones. Perhaps the Orioles will introduce a new pl
Double-A skipper Roberto Mercado on several of the 2024 Baysox
Steve Melewski
Orioles
During my interview in this space recently with Orioles Double-A Bowie (now Chesapeake) manager Roberto Mercado, he spent some time talking about his work in the Arizona Fall League and the O’s players he managed there. But he also spent some time talking about his 2024 season with Double-A Bowie and some of the notable players he managed there thi
Nats add two pitchers on minor league deals
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
It’s not the kind of major splash everyone’s been waiting for, but the Nationals have signed a couple of free agents in recent days who could pitch their way onto the roster in 2025. The Nats signed left-hander Konnor Pilkington and right-hander Clay Helvey to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training, adding a pair of pitchers who
Because You Asked - Here We Go Again
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The weekend always seems like an opportune time to dump the contents of the mailbag, and chances to do it are running out in 2024. You ask and I answer, which leads us to the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original. I thought about editing, but it appealed to me as much as coal in my stocking or trying to hit Gerrit Cole. Also, my mailbag comes
Friday morning Nats Q&A
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
Good morning, everyone. We hoped this would be an eventful week, with the Winter Meetings offering an opportunity for news. And it was more eventful than any previous week this offseason, just not necessarily in a way anyone would have guessed. Juan Soto signed with the Mets for an insane $765 million. The Nationals selected reliever Evan Reifert f
O's hitting coach Cody Asche on team's hitting staff and more
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles, as they did during the 2024 season, will have three hitting coaches working with their position players again in the 2025 year. This time around, Cody Asche returns to the staff as primary hitting coach. The assistant hitting coaches are Sherman Johnson and Tommy Joseph. Johnson will also serve as upper level hitting coordinator. Johns