Paul Fry led the Orioles this season with 66 appearances out of the bullpen. A source of pride that also might have come at a price. Was it the workload, in his first full season in the majors, that created the 8.38 ERA and .333 average against in August and the 10.29 ERA and .355 average against in September? It's a plausible theory given his unprecedented workload and how he registered a 1.08 ERA in July and how opponents batted .107. Let the reliever take a stab at it. "I loved having...

The Nationals are finalizing a deal with Howie Kendrick to bring the postseason hero back for at least one more season. Kendrick and the Nats have agreed to the framework of a one-year contract that will pay him $6.25 million in 2020, with a mutual option for 2021, a source familiar with the deal confirmed this morning. The deal, first reported by the Washington Post, is pending a physical. It's an increase in salary for the veteran infielder, who turns 37 in July and made $4 million this...

It's been said that any youngster here in this land of opportunity can grow up to become president. But only at Nationals Park can someone don one of the faces seen on Mount Rushmore, lace up running shoes and become a Racing President. The Nationals are looking for people with the right combination of show-biz personality, athleticism and political ambition (of a sort) to take on the personae of George, Tom, Abe and Teddy during home games in the coming season. The club's entertainment...

There's a lot of talk about the Nationals and money right now, namely how much money they can spend in an attempt to keep Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg. This comes after managing principal owner Mark Lerner, in an interview with former tennis player, lawyer and agent Donald Dell on NBC Sports Washington, claimed the club "really can only afford to have one of those two guys." This perhaps caught a lot of folks off guard, if not for the actual message than for the fact Lerner was...

By stating his intent to find a fourth catcher for the spring training roster, a minor league deal the most obvious avenue, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias revealed that Austin Wynns remains firmly in the Orioles' plans for 2020. It wasn't an assumption. The Orioles might have to clear more space on their 40-man roster over the winter and they're carrying three catchers. Elias keeps saying that he wants a veteran catcher to go with Wynns, Pedro Severino and Chance Sisco....

After an eventful week around Birdland with the trades of Jonathan Villar and Dylan Bundy, there is plenty to talk about. Plus the Winter Meetings begin next week in San Diego. The Orioles added five minor league pitchers in the deals for Villar and Bundy and are expected to make at least one pick in the upcoming Rule 5 draft. So today, with a lot going on recently, let's take some reader questions. Ask anything - about the minors or majors, the recent trades or any topic - and I and other...

The Orioles are nearing completion of the hiring process for their coaching staff, another item to cross off a long list of activities. Former Marlins and Braves manager Fredi González has been chosen as major league coach, according to a source. González inherits the title that belonged to José Hernández, who shifts to assistant hitting coach, per the source. Two of the three vacancies on the staff have been filled, including Anthony Sanders' hiring as first base coach. Sanders...

The Dodgers played in the World Series four times from 1974 through 1981, but they don't have a position player representing that era in the Hall of Fame. That could change when the Hall of Fame's Modern Baseball Era Committee considers Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey, who has the strongest case to be in Cooperstown. The committee covers players from 1970 through 1987 and meets Sunday with the results announced that evening at the Winter Meetings in San Diego. Garvey played in five World...

As the daylight hours near low ebb, we need all the happy thoughts we can get. Here's one: Pitchers and catchers report to camp in Sarasota in less than two months. Many of us also get warm feelings from knowing we'll soon be getting together with our extended families for some holiday cheer. Depending, that is, on your own particular family dynamic. The most family-friendly sport has brought us many great baseball families: the DiMaggios, the Alous, the Griffeys. The first family of baseball...

The Orioles made a move this afternoon to increase their infield depth and perhaps provide another roster option in spring training. Maintaining a busy schedule this week with the Winter Meetings approaching, the Orioles signed 25-year-old utility player Dilson Herrera to a minor league contract. Herrera spent the 2019 season in Triple-A, where he hit .248/.330/.501 with 29 doubles, 24 home runs and 64 RBIs in 117 games with the Mets affiliate in Syracuse. His last tour in the majors came the...