What happens now that the lockout has begun?
What happens now that the lockout has begun?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
And so we have entered uncharted territory. Uncharted, that is, for the last 27 years. For the first time since the infamous 1994-95 strike, Major League Baseball is now officially in a work stoppage. When the collective bargaining agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday with no new deal in place, owners enforced a lockout of players. How long will it last? What are they fighting over? What does this mean for the Nationals the rest of the winter? Let's try to address as much of this as we...
A few notes on O's agreement with Jordan Lyles
A few notes on O's agreement with Jordan Lyles
Steve Melewski
Orioles
For the Orioles, a new pitcher arrived just before a baseball lockout did. It was just after midnight this morning when Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweeted that the Orioles were in agreement to add free agent right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles on a one-year contract worth $7 million that includes a club option for the 2023 season. Lyles pitched for the Texas Rangers the last two years. He signed a two-year deal with Texas for $16 million on Dec. 13, 2019. In 12 games during the shortened 2020...
Mancini moved forward as stoppage neared (updated)
Mancini moved forward as stoppage neared (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The sides met multiple times again yesterday, Major League Baseball's negotiating committee and representatives for the MLB Players Association engaging in face-to-face discussions that, according to various reports, lasted about as long as it takes to get through self-checkout at the grocery store. Negotiations were shut down by the middle of the afternoon, with the sport expected to follow after midnight. MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweeted that owners voted unanimously to institute the...
Hopefully the players and owners won't test fan patience
Hopefully the players and owners won't test fan patience
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Maybe I am completely wrong here, but at least as is relates to the game's fans, a lockout in Major League Baseball, for now, means very little. Yes the flow of news will slow but there will still be topics to discuss and the game will return at some point. The at some point part here is the really important part. MLB tested the emotions of its fans during a pandemic in 2020 and some of its fans are still hurting in some ways, financially or otherwise. MLB should consider that during these...
Last chance to make moves before tonight's expected lockout
Last chance to make moves before tonight's expected lockout
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
After an awfully quiet start to the offseason, then a furious 48 hours of nonstop news, now baseball has fewer than 24 hours to wrap up any remaining business before the collective bargaining agreement expires and a league-imposed lockout is expected to commence. All of this has made for an unusual couple of days as clubs around the sport rushed to make moves both big and small before a transactions freeze brings a stop to all activity until owners and players can agree on a new CBA. It could...
Orioles sign infielder Rougned Odor
Orioles sign infielder Rougned Odor
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
The Orioles tonight announced that they have signed infielder Rougned Odor (ROOG-nehd oh-DOER) to a one-year contract for the 2022 season. Odor, 27, appeared in 102 games for the New York Yankees last season, making 60 starts at second base and 29 at third base. He hit .202/.286/.379 (65-for-322) with 15 home runs, 12 doubles, 42 runs scored, and 39 RBI. His eight outs above average ranked second among American League second basemen and tied for fourth in the majors, according to Statcast. His...
Nationals sign veteran infielder César Hernández
Nationals sign veteran infielder César Hernández
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Only 90 minutes after clearing three spots on their 40-man roster, the Nationals filled one of them with a veteran infielder who could help in a variety of ways next season: César Hernández. The Nats signed Hernández to a one-year contract tonight, making the 31-year-old only their second major league free agent addition of the winter to date, with only one more day left to make any more moves before Major League Baseball is expected to institute a lockout of players. Hernández...
Nationals agree to terms with infielder César Hernández
Nationals agree to terms with infielder César Hernández
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder César Hernández on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Hernández, 31, hit a career-high 21 home runs in 149 games between Cleveland and Chicago (AL) in 2021. He ranked among American League switch hitters in home runs (5th, 21), extra-base hits (6th, 44) and slugging percentage (7th, .386). In his ninth Major League season, he hit .232...
Leftovers for breakfast
Leftovers for breakfast
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles took a few swipes at their 40-man roster yesterday, including how they outrighted infielder Richie Martin to Triple-A Norfolk. The former Rule 5 pick couldn't decline because it was his first outright. Martin stays in the organization and can compete for a job in spring training or provide more depth in the organization. Injuries have messed with Martin the past few years. Who knows how badly they've hurt his development - the factures in both wrists and a broken hamate bone? They...
A few thoughts as O's tender six players contracts
A few thoughts as O's tender six players contracts
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Perhaps only a lockout could keep the Orioles from making what seems now almost daily changes to their 40-man roster. Yesterday began with the club holding 40 players on the 40-man. It ended with them at 38 after tendering contracts and/or reaching agreements with all six of their remaining arbitration-eligible players. No one was non-tendered. No one was traded. The Orioles have also signed infielder Rougned Odor, 27, to a one-year contract and outrighted infielder Richie Martin to Triple-A....