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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

The Nationals chose not to tender contracts to relievers Wander Suero and Ryne Harper, plus minor league first baseman Mike Ford, before tonight's league-wide deadline, making all three free agents only 28 hours before Major League Baseball is expected to begin a lockout of players that could stretch through most of the winter. The Nats did tender contracts to all other unsigned players on their 40-man roster, including seven arbitration-eligible players - Juan Soto, Josh Bell, Joe Ross, Erick...

The Washington Nationals claimed infielder Lucius Fox off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Fox, 24, hit .245 and posted a .353 on-base percentage with 15 doubles, five homers, 24 RBI, 37 walks, 19 stolen bases and 43 runs scored in 62 games across three levels of Kansas City's Minor League system in 2021. He entered the season rated by Baseball America as the No. 22 prospect in the...

The Nationals have added to their infield depth, claiming Lucius Fox off waivers from the Orioles and signing former Blue Jays shortstop Richard Ureña to a minor league contract. Fox immediately joins the Nats' 40-man roster, which for the moment is full. That very well could change by the end of the day if the club chooses not to tender contracts to any of their nine unsigned arbitration-eligible players before the league's 8 p.m. deadline. Fox was acquired only two weeks ago by the...

While the Orioles are busy making contract decisions on their arbitration eligible players, with the deadline set at 8 p.m. tonight, they also cleared two spots on a 40-man roster that's no longer filled. Reliever Brooks Kriske was released to pursue an international opportunity, according to the club, confirming news that appeared this morning on baseball's transactions page. And the Nationals claimed infielder Lucius Fox off waivers, ending his stay with the Orioles only two weeks after...