Pete Kerzel

Looking ahead to the Rule 5 draft (Nats pass in major league phase)

December 09, 2015, 3:42pm

NASHVILLE - This morning's Rule 5 draft is the final order of business at the Winter Meetings. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo will be flying back to D.C. by the time the first selection is made shortly after 9 a.m.; he's left his trusted front office lieutenants to handle the Rule 5 business. For those of you unfamiliar with the Rule 5, here's a quick refresher: Teams can pick players that were not protected on other teams' 40-man rosters (and who were 18 or younger on the June 5...

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Comments from Boras' scrum on Harper, Strasburg and Span

December 09, 2015, 1:51pm

Nationals

Comments from Boras' scrum on Harper, Strasburg and Span

NASHVILLE - One of the most eagerly anticipated happenings of the Winter Meetings has finally taken place. Super agent Scott Boras held court during his annual scrum outside the media workroom at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center this afternoon, and didn't shy away from talking about contractual issues surrounding two of the Nationals players - and one ex-Nat - he represents. Coming off his first National League Most Valuable Player award, right fielder Bryce Harper's stock...

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What's the holdup with the Nats trading Drew Storen?

December 09, 2015, 5:11am

Nationals

What's the holdup with the Nats trading Drew Storen?

NASHVILLE - The Nationals came to the Winter Meetings determined to solve the Drew Storen dilemma. Yet as the annual offseason baseball confab hits the home stretch, Storen is still part of their bullpen. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and new manager Dusty Baker are being careful in their comments, acknowledging the obvious but continuing to try and build up Storen's trade value by reminding reporters that he's still an important piece, valuable enough that he'd probably be slated for...

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Orioles extend working agreement with Single-A Delmarva through 2018

December 08, 2015, 2:12pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced they have extended their working agreement with Class-A Delmarva, signing a two-year extension through the 2018 season. Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds, underwent renovations prior to the 2015 season which included remodeled clubhouses, training facilities, and batting cages. In 2016, the ballpark will feature a new playing surface as well as improved stadium lighting. The Shorebirds are also finalizing plans for several fan-centered...

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Of star sluggers he's managed, Baker says Harper's best comp is Griffey

December 08, 2015, 10:51am

Nationals

Of star sluggers he's managed, Baker says Harper's best comp is Griffey

NASHVILLE - If you think new Nationals manager Dusty Baker has spent the last month poring over videotape to dissect swings, checking in by phone with all of his new players and communicating daily with the brass on South Capitol Street about how things will be run under his tenure, think again. Since Baker had pretty detached himself from the day-to-day baseball grind until the Nationals came calling, he's been immersed in other business interests and has spent much of the time since being...

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Orioles Charitable Foundation, Adam Jones make $75,000 contribution to Webster Kendrick Boys & Girls Club

December 08, 2015, 8:34am

Orioles

Hundreds of youth from the Webster Kendrick Boys & Girls Club will soon benefit from a $75,000 donation from the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation and Orioles center fielder and Boys & Girls Club alumnus Adam Jones. The donation will help to renovate and expand a Technology Center and the Callaway Community School Tech Lab at the Club's facility located at 4130 Callaway Ave. It will be the third Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore that the Orioles and Jones have renovated along...

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Is Rizzo willing to part with top prospects to bring trades across finish line?

December 07, 2015, 3:58pm

Nationals

Is Rizzo willing to part with top prospects to bring trades across finish line?

NASHVILLE - By now, most observers expected the Nationals to have gotten a lot futher in their bullpen makeover, perhaps swinging a trade for an eighth- or ninth-inning arm. But here we are, entering the second day of the Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, and the Nats have done nothing of significance. What's more, the once-promising plethora of shutdown relief arms has thinned out considerably in the past two days. Darren O'Day is apparently returning to...

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Rizzo on who will play shortstop, inquiries on Escobar, interest in Rollins and more (with video)

December 07, 2015, 1:44pm

Nationals

Rizzo on who will play shortstop, inquiries on Escobar, interest in Rollins and more (with video)

NASHVILLE - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo isn't averse to trading for a shortstop, but if tomorrow was April 4, he's sure there's someone on the current roster who would be trotting out to the space between third and second bases in the bottom of the first inning on the final opening day at Atlanta's Turner Field. "I have a comfort level that if today were opening day, we have a shortstop on the roster. ... There are several of them," Rizzo said this afternoon in his suite at the...

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Keep an eye on Nationals' talks with Rangers

December 06, 2015, 12:38pm

Nationals

NASHVILLE - If the Nationals are willing to deal Stephen Strasburg - and all indications are that they are at least open to discussions, with the right-hander one season away from free agency - keep an eye on the Rangers as a possible trade partner. Texas had interest in Strasburg last offseason, though the Nationals were content to see how strong their rotation could be with the eventual addition of righty Max Scherzer via free agency. The teams talked extensively at the Winter Meetings in San...

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Nationals won't land reliever Darren O'Day (O'Day says reports "premature")

December 06, 2015, 4:54am

Nationals

We're an hour from liftoff at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, and the Nationals have reportedly already lost one of their primary targets before the Winter Meetings even begin. Per a report from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, right-hander Darren O'Day will likely remain with the Orioles. The Nationals had made the sidearming set-up man one of their chief targets in an expected bullpen makeover. No word yet on contract terms, but O'Day had been seeking a four-year...

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Orioles announce autograph lineup for FanFest on Dec. 12

December 04, 2015, 11:18am

Orioles

Autograph vouchers for FanFest go on sale tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. at orioles.com/fanfest. But in order to plan out whose signatures you want to get, and when you can get them, we're happy to provide the official list of autograph stations for FanFest on Dec. 12 at the Baltimore Convention Center. At FanFest, the Orioles will once again employ an autograph policy designed to support youth charitable endeavors through OriolesREACH and enhance fan engagement with shorter wait times. Children...

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Report: Nats agree to two-year deal with Oliver Perez

December 04, 2015, 10:35am

Nationals

Report: Nats agree to two-year deal with Oliver Perez

The Nationals have agreed to terms on a two-year, $7 million deal with left-handed reliever Oliver Perez, an industry source has confirmed. The signing ahead of next week's Winter Meetings in Nashville is the first tangible move in general manager Mike Rizzo's expected bullpen makeover. Perez would presumably inherit the 25-man roster spot and duties of southpaw Matt Thornton, who was not re-signed and remains a free agent. The 34-year-old Perez went 2-4 with a 4.17 ERA in 70 games between...

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Off to Music City for the Winter Meetings

December 03, 2015, 11:32am

Nationals

Off to Music City for the Winter Meetings

In a few hours, the MASNsports.com contingent will be boarding a Southwest Airlines flight out of Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, bound for Nashville and baseball's Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. While the Winter Meetings get lots of attention for being the place major league executives and player agents meet and mingle to discuss possible trades and free agent signings, you might be interested to know that the real purpose...

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Nationals announce 2016 minor league staff

December 03, 2015, 10:13am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals named their Minor League managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2016 season on Thursday. Nationals Vice President and Senior Advisor to the General Manager Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager and Vice President, Player Personnel Doug Harris and Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. The Nationals named Randy Knorr Senior Advisor to the General Manager, Player Development. Knorr moves to this role after spending the previous...

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If the Nats land a left-handed bat, where does he play?

December 03, 2015, 8:29am

Nationals

If the Nats land a left-handed bat, where does he play?

Judging from the responses in our comments section and on Twitter, there's a significant portion of NatsTown that wants general manager Mike Rizzo to come back from next week's Winter Meetings in Nashville with an outfielder, preferably one who hits left-handed to break up the spate of righty sticks in the Nationals lineup. I'm not sure one will fit into his carry-on, and you know how those bag fees can add up. Just a guess here, but I don't think Rizzo is flying Southwest and paying the...

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Orioles make series of roster moves

December 02, 2015, 5:25pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have tendered contracts to eight arbitration-eligible players: infielders Ryan Flaherty and Manny Machado, first baseman/outfielder Mark Trumbo, right-handers Brad Brach, Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman, and left-handers Zach Britton and Brian Matusz. Additionally, outfielder Nolan Reimold and right-hander Vance Worley have agreed to terms on contracts for 2016, avoiding arbitration. Infielder Paul Janish, outfielder David Lough and right-hander Steve...

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Orioles acquire catcher Francisco Pena from Royals

December 02, 2015, 5:21pm

Orioles

The Orioles tonight announced that they have acquired catcher Francisco Pena from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Paul Janish has been designated for assignment. Pena, 26, batted .251/.305/.430 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 95 games with Triple-A Omaha in 2015, including a .274/.303/.522 slash line against left-handed pitching. In 784 career minor league games, Pena has hit .238/.288/.378 with 80 home runs and 352...

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Orioles acquire Trumbo, Riefenhauser from Mariners for Clevenger

December 02, 2015, 11:54am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired outfielder/first baseman Mark Trumbo and left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher Steve Clevenger. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Steve Johnson has been designated for assignment. Trumbo, 29, batted .262/.310/.449 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI in 142 games between the Mariners (96 games) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (46 games) in 2015, including a .302/.358/.490 slash line over his final...

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Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation to host Dec. 12 museum yard sale

December 02, 2015, 9:18am

Orioles

Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation to host Dec. 12 museum yard sale

If you've got some time before or after FanFest on Dec. 12, or just want to immerse yourself in some Baltimore sports history, head over to the outdoor pavilion at the Baltimore Museum of Industry at 1415 Key Highway. On that day, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation will offer area sports fans a unique opportunity to own a piece of some of the most iconic and memorable moments in Maryland Sports history. A one-day sale will feature hundreds of photographs and graphics...

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FanFest autograph vouchers on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at Orioles.com

December 02, 2015, 9:03am

Orioles

Vouchers for autograph sessions at Orioles FanFest will go on sale Saturday, December 5, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The list of autograph session times and participants will be posted online for preview at www.orioles.com/fanfest by 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4. Orioles FanFest will be held on Saturday, December 12, at the Baltimore Convention Center from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with early entry for Orioles Season Plan Members beginning at 10:00 a.m. as part of the Orange Carpet Program. At this...