The Nationals have several lineup holes they need to fill this winter, and it's no mystery where those holes are: A corner outfielder. A catcher. One or more first basemen. And perhaps either a second or third baseman. But there may be one more lineup hole that needs to be addressed at some point: designated hitter. We don't know yet if the DH will return to the National League in 2021 after a one-year tryout during the recently completed short season. It's not currently included in the...

For a young pitching prospect like the Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez, the Bowie alternate camp this season provided a solid development experience. No, he was not pitching in games as he would have been this season at Single-A Frederick, but he was facing hitters of a higher caliber than he would have in the Carolina League. The same applied to lefty DL Hall, who likely would have pitched at Double-A Bowie during the 2020 season. At the alternate site, they faced the O's No. 1 prospect in...

We've made it past the awards portion of the offseason. Someone pump the brakes before we slam into the New Year. Ryan Mountcastle was the only member of the Orioles to receive a vote in the four major awards. For third place in Rookie of the Year. One point for one of the most important players in the rebuild. If you have an affinity for early projections, Mountcastle will rank among the favorites for the honor in 2021. He's going to be on the opening day roster. No "late arrival" excuses...

The workouts and positive feelings remain a staple of Trey Mancini's offseason routine. No doubts in his mind whether he'll be ready for spring training. The full expectation of playing on opening day. The building confidence that he's beaten Stage 3 colon cancer and his body can handle the rigors of his conditioning program and preparation for the regular season. The Orioles made Mancini available this morning on a Zoom conference call with the media. Here's a sampling, beginning with his...

One of the Nationals' nine free agent signings last summer was Zach Cornell out of Southeastern University. The left-handed hitting outfielder was Baseball America's Preseason NAIA Player of the Year entering the 2020 season. In 27 games at Southeastern prior to the coronavirus shutdown, he hit .519 (56-for-108) with 12 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 12 walks, 44 RBIs and 43 runs scored. Cornell, 22, started his collegiate career at Middle Georgia State University for three seasons,...

There is so much uncertainty surrounding the 2021 season, even as the calendar creeps forward and pitchers and catchers are due to report for spring training in three months. And the uncertainty extends well beyond the major league season. If anything, there's even more uncertainty at this moment about the state of Minor League Baseball in 2021. As you probably know by now, Major League Baseball has taken over control of the minors, which for a century operated as its own entity that merely...

On the day after the Manager of the Year awards were announced - Kevin Cash of Tampa Bay won in the American League and Miami's Don Mattingly in the National League - it seems an appropriate time to say a few words about the manager here in Baltimore. Brandon Hyde just completed his second season as Orioles skipper. I think judging a manager is a difficult task. Of course, there is the bottom line of the won-loss record. That is there for all to see and you earn your record. It's one way to...

The Orioles today announced the proceeds of the #F16HT t-shirt sales, created in support of infielder/outfielder Trey Mancini's fight against colon cancer, have totaled more than $80,000 to benefit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Nearly 5,000 shirts were sold to fans across North America, with orders spanning 45 states, Washington D.C., and Canada. All net proceeds will benefit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance Patient and Family Support Services. "On behalf of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and...

Mike Rizzo will tell you he doesn't make a single offseason decision based on what other clubs are doing to their roster. The Nationals general manager's sole focus is on improving his team, no matter what anyone else around the league is doing. It's an admirable philosophy, of course, and it has served Rizzo well in his decade-plus in charge of the Nats. It also may be increasingly difficult to adhere to this winter, because there's reason to believe every other club in the National League...

Ryan Mountcastle stuck his head into the Rookie of the Year voting this summer. Just a quick peek. Maybe he can take a deep dive in 2021. Mountcastle received one point via a third-place vote to finish tied for eighth in the American League, as announced tonight on MLB Network. Cal Ripken Jr., who received the honor in 1982, revealed the winner. The Mariners' Kyle Lewis was a unanimous choice with 30 first-place votes for 150 points, followed by the White Sox's Luis Robert with 83 points and...