Franco is latest veteran to join Nats on minor league deal
Franco is latest veteran to join Nats on minor league deal
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals are bringing in another experienced major leaguer who wasn't on a major league roster at season's end, signing veteran third baseman Maikel Franco to a minor league contract, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. Franco joins fellow infielder Dee Strange-Gordon, who agreed to a minor league deal of his own Saturday evening, as newly added veterans to a Nationals organization that is lacking in experience after this summer's trade deadline sell-off. Like Strange-Gordon,...
Nats sign veteran Strange-Gordon to minor league deal
Nats sign veteran Strange-Gordon to minor league deal
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Though clubs are prohibited from signing free agents who were on big league rosters last season during the lockout, they are allowed to sign players who weren't in the majors in 2021 to minor league contracts. And the Nationals took advantage of that Saturday night, striking a deal with veteran infielder Dee Strange-Gordon, a source familiar with the signing confirmed. Strange-Gordon, who appeared in 1,002 big league games with the Dodgers, Marlins and Mariners from 2011-20 but spent 2021...
Low-key additions don't grab attention but are needed right now
Low-key additions don't grab attention but are needed right now
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals haven't made many roster moves so far this offseason, and those they have made don't exactly have a lot of wow factor. César Hernández? Lucius Fox? Francisco Pérez? Andrew Young? These aren't names that are going to inspire a fan base to believe the club is bound for big things in 2022. These are, however, exactly the kind of moves the Nationals should be making at this stage of their rebuild. And there will probably be more to come once the league-enforced lockout of...
More from the mailbag
More from the mailbag
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Another week has passed since my last shallow dive into my mailbag. And if anyone is well-versed in being shallow, it's this guy. As usual, you're getting the raw and untampered version. The only editing is done if I catch the wrong punctuation in a sentence or change my mind about using profanity. Also, my mailbag strips down to its underwear, slaps on a coat of oil and wins every posedown. Are players chosen in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft required to stay on the team the entire...
Remembering a loving grandfather and avid sports fan
Remembering a loving grandfather and avid sports fan
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
It's crazy how much we take after our role models. It's unfortunate that you sometimes don't fully understand their impact and the similarities between you until those people are gone. My grandfather passed away early Sunday morning. Ramiro Blanco was 91 and thankfully passed away peacefully. He had a few ailments that came with old age, including prostate cancer, but it was just his time. He was at peace with that. And so is the rest of the Blanco Family Circus, as we so lovingly call...
Friday morning Nats Q&A
Friday morning Nats Q&A
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Well, there's not a whole lot going on right now in the baseball world, as you probably are painfully aware. The sport's first work stoppage in 27 years has brought a halt to the hot stove league, though those final 48 hours leading up to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement sure were eventful, weren't they? In our continuing quest to keep everyone engaged throughout this downtime, we're going to fire up the Q&A machine this morning and take your questions. On the...
Leftovers for breakfast
Leftovers for breakfast
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles signed five more pitchers this week to minor league deals, according to Major League Baseball's transactions page: Right-handers Bryan Bautista, Raynel Duran, Wilton Rondon and Darwin Caballero, and left-hander Noelin Cuevas. They also signed right-hander Jarlin Guerrero on Monday, which I noted a few days later. I didn't think the page was incorrect, but I checked anyway for confirmation. You're safe to run with it. These are the signings that don't garner much attention....
How does Odor's signing impact Jones?
How does Odor's signing impact Jones?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The signing of Rougned Odor for the 2022 season fit the usual description of a placeholder for the Orioles until their top middle infield prospects are ready to hold down full-time jobs in the majors. Until the club decides where to spread out its shortstops, including Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg. The Orioles waited until Aug. 24 to recall Jahmai Jones from Triple-A Norfolk, after his bat had cooled and he appeared to grow a little more comfortable in his reintroduction to second base....
What if Zimmermann had re-signed with the Nats in 2014?
What if Zimmermann had re-signed with the Nats in 2014?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Baseball organizations and baseball players make countless decisions that impact their short-term and long-term success. Many have no real significant bearing on a franchise's ultimate fortunes, but some really do wind up having major implications that affect not only the player involved but several others either already on the roster or perhaps arriving in the future. You never know which of these decisions are going to have lasting repercussions and which ones won't. It often takes years to...
Wondering whether Orioles acquire another outfielder
Wondering whether Orioles acquire another outfielder
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Areas that the Orioles must address during the offseason, when they're able to function normally again post-lockout, may or may not include the outfield. How's that for a definitive statement? The Orioles signed catcher Jacob Nottingham to a minor league contract last week, but they still don't have a backstop on the 40-man roster. They aren't done and could offer a major league deal after a new collective bargaining agreement allows it, along with at least one more minor league pact. The...