As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Joe Ross, who was wildly erratic during a season that included several promotions and demotions, and then surprisingly started Game 5 of the World Series. PLAYER REVIEW: JOE ROSS Age on opening day 2020: 26 How acquired: Traded with Trea Turner from Padres, with Steven Souza Jr. and Travis Ott going to Rays in three-team deal, December 2014 MLB service...

What's worse than the pop quiz I handed out on a Sunday? How about one around the holidays? This is what happens when you attend a school with no days off. You knew the risk. The first item crossed off the shopping list will be: Starting pitcher Reliever Middle infielder None of the above The opening day third baseman will be: Rio Ruiz Hanser Alberto Someone who isn't on the current roster None of the above Richie Martin will begin the year: At shortstop In a utility role At Triple-A Norfolk...

Don't you love it when there is not one specific topic to discuss about the Orioles but many? I know I do, so it's time for another Orioles question-and-answer session. You provide a question on anything about the club - the majors or minors, potential additions or subtractions, the upcoming Rule 5 draft - whatever you've got and I and our readers will provide some responses. For instance, the Orioles have seven arbitration-eligible players, headed up by infielder Jonathan Villar. Readers...

The batches of minor league signings that are completed throughout the offseason are aimed to increase depth and competition in the organization. Very little to get fans excited, but a necessity that unfolds all over baseball. The winners and the rebuilders. No one is immune. The Orioles announced a dozen names yesterday, including nine who are returning after a brief dalliance with free agency. Mason Williams was an early target after refusing his outright assignment and he's back to compete...

The Orioles have announced plans to hold their first "Winter Warm-Up" event on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Camden Yards. This is one of the ideas intended to connect fans to the team, with others in the formative stages. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, assistant Sig Mejdal and manager Brandon Hyde will participate in a "special conversation," per the team's press release. MASN's Rob Long will serve as emcee. The Orioles describe the atmosphere as Eutaw...

The Orioles invite fans to attend the first ever 'Winter Warm-Up' event at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, December 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. Eutaw Street and the surrounding areas will be transformed into a festive experience, inviting fans to celebrate the holiday season at Camden Yards. The event will feature local vendors, businesses, and food trucks along with live holiday music, festive photobooths, ice sculpture demonstrations, and holiday face painting, among other...

With center field depth an offseason priority for the Orioles, they agreed to terms with Mason Williams on a minor league contract that's certain to include an invitation to spring training in February. Williams is included among a dozen names tweeted earlier today by the club. And he's arguably the most important given the position and impression he made at Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles also agreed to terms with pitchers Cristian Alvarado, Hunter Cervenka, Francisco Jiménez and Rob...

Nationals players received a total of $29,110,012.47 for winning the World Series, which they elected to divvy up among a host of people who played a role in the franchise's first championship. Sixty-one people received full shares valued at $382,358.18 apiece. Players also gave out 14.13 partial shares and two cash awards, Major League Baseball announced today. The MLB players' pool comes from a percentage of gate receipts from each postseason round: 50 percent from the wild card games, 60...

Left-hander Nick Raquet made some nice adjustments early in his 2019 campaign for high Single-A Potomac that allowed him to concentrate on the finer points of his breaking pitch, helping him to end up with a very positive season. In part one of our discussion, we will break down the adjustments he made to turn his year around. Raquet (Twitter: @NickRaquet) made 25 starts at Potomac, going 11-9 with a 4.07 ERA. But in April, he struggled to a 1-4 start with an 8.72 ERA. "Yeah, I felt like I...

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Daniel Hudson, who was acquired on July 31 to help a struggling bullpen and wound up closing out the World Series. PLAYER REVIEW: DANIEL HUDSON Age on opening day 2020: 33 How acquired: Traded from Blue Jays for Kyle Johnston, July 2019 MLB service time: 10 years, 106 days 2019 salary: $1.5 million (Nats paid $483,871) Contract status: Free agent 2019...