General manager Mike Rizzo found a much-desired big bat to stuff into the Nationals' stocking just hours before the sun sets on Christmas Eve: Josh Bell. The Nats have acquired Bell, an All-Star first baseman in 2019, from the Pirates in exchange for pitching prospects Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean in a rare (but not unprecedented) Dec. 24 move announced by the club this afternoon. The switch-hitting Bell, 28, clubbed 37 homers and drove in 116 runs while posting a .936 OPS and earning his first...

The Washington Nationals acquired first baseman Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitcher Wil Crowe and right-handed pitcher Eddy Yean on Thursday. Bell, 28, joins the Nationals after five seasons with the Pirates including the 2019 season in which he was named a National League All-Star. In those five seasons, he hit .261 with a .349 on-base percentage and a .466 slugging percentage with 105 doubles, 13 triples, 86 home runs and 309 RBI across 552 games. "We...

Ask someone to create a list of the best players in Nationals history, and you're going to find plenty of consensus. Max Scherzer is on there, probably at the top, with Stephen Strasburg right behind him. Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto and Bryce Harper most likely round out the top five, in one order or another. Ryan Zimmerman certainly deserves a spot. Then you'll start getting some diverging opinions as supporters make the case for the likes of Jordan Zimmermann and Daniel Murphy and Ian Desmond...

As the calendar year winds down, let's take another look back at the summer of 2020. Let's note a few things that went right during the shortened 60-game season for the Orioles. From Rule 5 to MVO: One of the biggest things that went right was the play of right-fielder Anthony Santander. He was a Rule 5 pick from Cleveland by the club in 2016, and by 2020 was the Most Valuable Oriole, as voted by local media. That is indeed a success story. Santander's season was a big thing that went right....

Austin Hays would be the heavy favorite to win a footrace against John Means. However, Means beat him to the father finish line. McCoy Alan Means was born on Dec. 17. Levi Austin Jerald Hays was born on Dec. 22. Tremendous gifts to close out a very difficult year. Means and Hays will have lots to talk about in spring training besides baseball, but they're two hugely important components of the roster and rebuild. The Orioles have been envisioning Hays as their center fielder and leadoff hitter...

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. Hall of Famers John Wooden and Earl Weaver preached it. The phrase serves as the title of Weaver's autobiography. I'm using it this morning to lead everyone into my latest offseason collection of random facts. And most important, what we learned from them. No need to dig too deeply. Sometimes the answers are lying on the surface. Also, don't overlook an orchid while searching for a rose. Or something like that. * The Orioles were 18-11...

The day after Christmas exists in many households to eat leftovers, vacuum pine needles and return unwanted gifts. There's also time spent rehashing some of the most uncomfortable moments at the dinner table. The Orioles haven't been shy about keeping receipts and making returns, no matter whose feelings get hurt. Just ask Grant Balfour's agent. Sometimes they can be talked into returning home with the same item, but feeling much better about it. Just ask Yovani Gallardo's agent. (If you...

'Tis the season to be jolly. If you pretend that 2020 didn't happen. My only advice is to dig deep and unearth the joyous moments in your lives. Hopefully, you'll find many more than you expected. Hopefully, you can use a trowel instead of a bulldozer. For me, it's getting engaged at spring training, less than a week before the shutdown. My plan to propose at the spot where we met outside the Ed Smith Stadium press box would have been ruined if she chose to fly down later. (I'll never know...

The Orioles are approaching the Christmas holiday with a shopping list that won't be satisfied by a late trip to the mall. Their search for a veteran starting pitcher and replacement for shortstop José Iglesias, to name two of the items, could stretch into January or February. The market is evolving. A drop in prices can expand it. Their last transaction on this date occurred in 2014 with the signing of left-hander César Cabral to a minor league deal. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway was claimed...

One bright spot at the end of the abbreviated 2020 season was watching Andrew Stevenson crush baseballs for the final few weeks. The outfielder hit .417 in September, with seven doubles, one triple, two homers and 12 RBIs. His on-base percentage was .488. With Michael A. Taylor given the option to look for another team - and eventually signing a deal with the Royals - it was obvious the door was open for Stevenson to officially take on the role as the club's fourth outfielder going forward....