After a few days away, we’re back today with a new blog and hopefully some fresh thoughts and takes to lead us into the New Year. For now, a few facts and opinions. Fact: O’s 2024 ace pitcher Corbin Burnes is headed to Arizona to pitch for the 2025 season. Opinion: The Orioles' current rotation, even minus Burnes, could be solid but is now missing

We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2024. We continue the series today with CJ Abrams’ wild, up-and-down season … Had you been asked on Opening Day to pick the Nationals player most likely destined for a breakout season, you very well might have said CJ Abrams. The young

Rather than ask (beg?) for more mailbag questions, I decided today to pose a few of my own. Here are three for you to consider. Share your answers. If the Orioles don’t acquire a No. 1 starter, should Zach Eflin or Grayson Rodriguez start on Opening Day? Eflin has the edge in experience and track record. He’s also good, so the assignment wouldn’t b

The Nationals’ offseason got a little warmer on Sunday night when they agreed to bring back Josh Bell on a one-year, $6 million deal, a source confirmed. The deal, which is pending a physical, was first reported by The New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Bell, 32, spent 1 ½ seasons with Washington after coming over in a trade with the Pirates on Christmas

And so we have reached the final installment of a series 20 years in the making. It’s time to reveal the five greatest players in Nationals history. Thanks again to everyone who has read and commented on the previous editions. It’s always great to hear the diverse set of opinions on such a fun topic. For those who haven’t read them yet, here are li

Numerous questions immediately came to mind among Orioles fans as news broke super-early Saturday morning that Corbin Burnes was in agreement with the Diamondbacks on a six-year, $210 million deal. Among them: Now what? Burnes always seemed like a long shot to stay with the Orioles, mostly due to the money but also his preference to sign with a Wes

We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2024. We continue the series today by looking at the moves the Nats did and did not make at the trade deadline … For much of a decade, the Nationals used the trade deadline to add to their major league roster in order to compete for a W

If the Orioles are, indeed, done with the position side of their roster beyond maybe some minor league signings, we can begin crafting lineups against right-handed and left-handed starters. Why? Because what else are you gonna do besides eat leftovers and talk about Corbin Burnes? The chatter now has him seeking at least $245 million. I’ll gladly w

We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2024. We continue the series today with the emergence of the young starters in the rotation … Under Mike Rizzo, the Nationals have always built their roster around starting pitching. “You can never have enough starting pitching,” the lo

The Orioles had five pending free agents when the offseason began and only one has signed. Only two seem to have any chance of staying with the organization. Outfielder Austin Slater received a one-year, $1.75 million deal from the lowly White Sox, improving his odds of getting more regular playing time. He would have remained a backup with the Ori