As a young Orioles fan it took many years for me to understand the Davey Johnson trade to the Braves following the 1972 season. Dealing a three-time All-Star and winner of three Gold Gloves at second base. An integral part of four World Series teams. The disappointment of a third-place finish in '72 after three straight American League pennants still ran deep. Now this? The Orioles were clearing a path for Bobby Grich, who won four Gold Gloves and made three All-Star teams before signing with...

A spokesman for Major League Baseball issued a statement tonight disputing a New York Daily News report that Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and director of pitching Chris Holt are being investigated for potential pension fraud. "Major League Baseball is completely comfortable with the Orioles' coaching designations for the 2020 season, which are not only consistent with the terms of the pension plan but were approved in advance by MLB and shared prior to the start...

Nationals fall instructional league workouts wrap up over the weekend. Players now prepare for offseason conditioning and some will get extra at-bats in winter league competition. Rain has prevented the Nats from playing the intended full schedule, with over 20 inches of rain falling on South Florida during this month. I got the opportunity to check in with Nats hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich this week and we ran down a few of the hitters he worked with in West Palm Beach, Fla. Gingrich...

Here is something pretty remarkable. Nelson Cruz, who remains a feared hitter at 40, is about to sign his third contract since leaving the Orioles. In the offseason following the 2014 season, the Orioles, coming off an appearance in the American League Championship Series, had big decisions to make. One was whether to re-sign Cruz and how far to go to get him. They made a significant three-year offer, but were reluctant to go four years on the deal. The Seattle Mariners however, would go four...

Our offseason player review series continues today with Kyle McGowin, who emerged out of the blue this summer to be an at-times dominant reliever. PLAYER REVIEW: KYLE McGOWIN Age on opening day 2021: 29 How acquired: Traded with Austin Adams from Angels for Danny Espinosa, December 2016 MLB service time: 139 days 2020 salary: $563,500 (prorated $80,990) Contract status: Under team control, arbitration-eligible in 2023, free agent in 2026 2020 stats: 1-0, 4.91 ERA, 9 G, 1 SV, 11 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6...

Our offseason player review series continues today with Wander Suero, who opened the season on the COVID-19 injured list but found his rhythm by September. PLAYER REVIEW: WANDER SUERO Age on opening day 2021: 29 How acquired: Signed as international free agent, February 2010 MLB service time: 2 years, 123 days 2020 salary: $582,200 (prorated $215,630) Contract status: Under team control, arbitration-eligible in 2022, free agent in 2025 2020 stats: 2-0, 3.80 ERA, 22 G, 0 SV, 23 2/3 IP, 20 H, 10...

In the world of improbable World Series Most Valuable Players, there's always going to be a seat at the table for former Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey. And you can be certain that he's going to block the plate. You know what they say about old habits. Dempsey went 5-for-13 with four doubles and a home run in 1983 and did his usual outstanding work defensively and handling the pitching staff. And the Orioles disposed of the Phillies in five games, with Dempsey embracing Scott McGregor after the...

Even though one season was 60 games long and one was 162 games in length, O's bullpen lefty Tanner Scott threw a similar number of big league innings in each, tossing 26 1/3 in 2019, when he spent some time at Triple-A, and 20 2/3 innings this season. But what he did with those innings was very different. The pitcher long considered a top bullpen prospect lived up to the hype this year. His ERA was down while results against his fastball were up for him. We've talked often about his...

The end of the regular season and the Orioles' exclusion from the playoffs doesn't lighten the mailbag. There are questions galore, which I'm pretty sure is also the name of a James Bond villain. I've never claimed to have all the answers. I'm still learning how to turn on the stove in my house. And as former Orioles infielder Robert Andino famously stated one day at his locker, "I ain't no future teller." I am, however, a fan of Penn & Teller. With the latest batch of furloughs...

Kevin Long will be back as the Nationals' hitting coach after all. Long and the Nats agreed to reunite on a one-year deal, a source familiar with the terms confirmed this afternoon, a surprising reversal from what appeared to be a parting of ways between the two sides nearly two weeks ago. Long, like everyone else on Davey Martinez's coaching staff, had a contract that was set to expire Oct. 31. Martinez, who signed a long-term extension in September, has been seeking to have more say in the...