New Orioles third base coach Tony Mansolino had zero ties to the Orioles organization. That is, until they sought to interview him. He got the gig and now he will look to add to the club and help players as he becomes the youngest member of the coaching staff. Mansolino, 38, spent the last 10 years with the Cleveland Indians organization. The next youngest member of the O's staff is first base coach Anthony Sanders at age 46. Mansolino served the Indians, first as a minor league batting coach...

The change in titles for Darren Holmes from Orioles bullpen coach to assistant pitching coach won't distance him from the relievers. He's going to have the same vantage point for games, with the same influence. That's good news to Cole Sulser, who said he benefited from his work with Holmes in 2020. "It was great. It was a fantastic experience," Sulser said this week. "I think his wealth of knowledge with how many years he played in major bullpen roles was a great resource for all of us...

In his second year as a major league manager, Brandon Hyde had to guide the Orioles through an unprecedented season in the midst of a pandemic. In his first season as a major league pitching coach, Chris Holt will assume responsibility of a staff that's never before had to ramp back up following a 60-game schedule and now faces the uncertainty of 2021. How, exactly, is that going to work? Holt didn't seem the least bit worried about it during yesterday's Zoom conference call with the media....

Giving Chris Holt two titles and sets of responsibilities raised one very interesting question. How would he blend his roles as Orioles pitching coach and director of pitching? Holt made it clear this afternoon in a Zoom conference call with the media that his new assignment as Doug Brocail's replacement is the top priority. "My primary job is the major league pitching staff," he said. "The goal of remaining the director of pitching is to have a top-down approach, make sure there's...

On Jan. 2, 2020, the Nationals signed Will Harris to a three-year deal. On Jan. 3, 2020, they signed Starlin Castro to a two-year deal. On Jan. 6, 2020, they re-signed Daniel Hudson to a two-year deal. Roughly two hours later, they signed Eric Thames to a one-year deal. That's four significant free agent moves in a four-day span, an avalanche of news that feels oh-so-quaint to revisit right now, does it not? Look, we knew this was going to be a slow-developing market, even slower than we saw...

To reduce the number of free passes he issued last summer, Orioles reliever Cole Sulser thinks he just needs to be more careful walking around his apartment. Sulser injured his right foot in a freakish accident that he believes led to inconsistencies in his delivery and mechanics, and the eventual loss of his job as closer. He averaged 6.8 walks per nine innings, compared to 2.7 over six minor league seasons. So what happened to Sulser, who made his first opening day roster and topped the...

The Orioles continue to make some huge strides in their pursuit of international amateur talent. A class of what would eventually be 44 players was added in the signing period that began July 2, 2019 and ended in October. The Orioles will sign fewer players in the coming class, but were involved with many more players commanding bigger signing bonuses. This is the latest sign that the club is serious about becoming a player on the international front and the club will be making history when it...

The Orioles today announced their 2021 Major League Coaching Staff. They have named Tony Mansolino as Third Base Coach. Darren Holmes shifts from Bullpen Coach to Assistant Pitching Coach and Chris Holt shifts from Director of Pitching to Pitching Coach/Director of Pitching. All other coaches remain in their same positions: Tim Cossins as Major League Field Coordinator/Catching Instructor, Fredi González as Major League Coach, José Hernández as Assistant Hitting Coach, Don Long as...

The Orioles announced their 2021 coaching staff this afternoon, which provided further confirmation that Tony Mansolino is handling third base duties and infield instruction. Mansolino, 38, replaces José Flores, who isn't returning after two seasons in the organization. News of Mansolino's hiring broke last month. He was the Indians' infield instructor and filled in at third base after Mike Sarbaugh moved into the dugout to serve as acting manager Sandy Alomar's bench coach. Mansolino...

We spend a lot of time talking about free agents the Nationals might be interested in acquiring, newcomers who could help bolster their 2021 roster. But what about the possibility of re-signing free agents who played here in 2020? The Nationals already brought back one guy who could've departed: Josh Harrison, who signed a one-year deal very early in the offseason. Otherwise, they've stayed away from their own free agents so far. That, of course, could change as spring training inches closer....