Our offseason player review series continues today with Starlin Castro, who was brought in last winter to help fortify the Nationals lineup, but played in only 16 games before suffering a season-ending injury. PLAYER REVIEW: STARLIN CASTRO Age on opening day 2021: 31 How acquired: Signed as free agent, January 2020 MLB service time: 10 years, 150 days 2020 salary: $5 million (prorated $1,851,852) Contract status: Signed for $7 million in 2021, free agent in 2022 2020 stats: 16 G, 63 PA, 60 AB,...

In late September, we got a chance to check in with shortstop Jackson Cluff, who spent the last month of the season at the Nationals alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Va. Cluff is rated as the No. 20 Nats prospect by MLBPipeline.com. He played his first season of pro ball at low single-A Hagerstown. Cluff said it was exciting to get a chance to work out with other Nationals players as part of the 60-man player pool. "I think that excitement raises when you get to play at this level...

Four Nationals players with major league experience have cleared outright waivers and have been assigned to the Triple-A Fresno roster, the club announced this afternoon. Infielder Adrián Sanchez and right-handers Aaron Barrett, Paolo Espino and Austen Williams were placed on waivers and were not claimed by any other clubs. They'll remain in the Nationals organization but are now off the 40-man roster. Barrett and Espino appeared in a few games for the Nats this season. Sanchez and...

When some young talent came up from the Orioles farm system this year and performed well in the major leagues - players like Ryan Mountcastle, Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer - it was a real positive for the organization in many ways. For one, it showed that the organization did have some nice talent down below and knew how to develop it. It was a credit both to the former regime of Dan Duquette, who drafted and/or traded for those players, but also for general manager Mike Elias and his staff. It...

The Astros beat the Athletics 11-6 on Thursday in Game 4 of the American League Division Series, punching their ticket to a fourth consecutive AL Championship Series. And it brings Dusty Baker a step closer to a championship he has been eyeing for more than two decades as a manager. Baker has 1,862 career victories, 15th on the all-time list. He has been named Manager of the Year three times and won seven division titles. But the 70-year-old is searching for his first World Series title, the...

While we wait to find out if the Houston Astros are really going to tick off baseball fans in 2020, it's time to again ponder the Orioles' rebuilding efforts. I have asked this question of fans often the last year or two and I'm asking again today: How do you feel about the club's rebuilding efforts and do you see hope for the future? I'll repeat another sentiment today you've heard from me before. That is that fans, generally speaking, seem to be very on board with the Orioles'...

Our offseason player review series continues today with Trea Turner, who developed into one of the league's most complete offensive players this season. PLAYER REVIEW: TREA TURNER Age on opening day 2021: 27 How acquired: Traded from Padres with Joe Ross for Steven Souza Jr. and Travis Ott, who went to Rays in three-team deal, December 2014 MLB service time: 4 years, 135 days 2020 salary: $7.45 million (prorated $2,759,259) Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2021, free agent in 2023 2020...

The Orioles won't know whether they'll be able to open their spring training camp in February until the world gives its approval. Or Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association if they choose to ignore the world. First comes the fall instructional league, which so far has gone uninterrupted for two weeks. If we're lucky, the Orioles will reach the point where they can extend spring training invites and avoid another shutdown of the Ed Smith Stadium complex. It's interesting to...

Which player led the Orioles in WAR in 2020? If you trust STATS, it's outfielder Cedric Mullins at 1.4. If you claim that you predicted it back in March, well, no one believes you. If you can explain why FanGraphs.com gave Mullins a 0.6 WAR and Baseball-Reference.com gave him a 0.4, I'll try to stay awake. Eyes wide open but likely to roll. Mullins recorded five Outs Above Average this season, tied for second-most in the majors by an outfielder per Statcast. His 95 percent success rate ranked...

Any reference to Orioles left-hander Bruce Zimmermann must be accompanied by his hometown or residence. Otherwise, you're a slacker and ill-equipped to join the discussion. He's a Baltimore native. He lives in Ellicott City. He works out in Elkridge. I'm still tracing the locations where he dines. Zimmermann attended Loyola Blakefield High School and was chosen for the Brooks Robinson All-Star Game at Camden Yards, where he was named Most Valuable Pitcher for the North team. He spent two...