Have the Orioles completed their coaching staff for the 2019 season? They seem to be done as long as the latest names to surface are accurate and there isn't a sudden change of plans. I'm hearing that Howie Clark is likely to return after serving as assistant hitting coach for the past two seasons. He was offered a minor league contract after his deal expired on Oct. 31, but he's in line to be included on manager Brandon Hyde's staff. Clark served as Single-A Delmarva's hitting coach in...

With or without Bryce Harper in the Nationals outfield, the organization always looks to improve its defense from year to year. This especially becomes a goal when your team falls short of the postseason after two years in a row in the National League Division Series. So, if the Nats outfield consists of Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Adam Eaton, with Michael A. Taylor as the fourth outfielder, the defense should be able to be pretty good. Robles was limited to 21 games in 2018 because of a elbow...

Former Tampa Bay Ray and current Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Chris Archer had a strong take yesterday on players eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. If you ever failed a test, got suspended, or admitted to using performance enhancers you should NOT be in the hall of fame. No hard feelings but you disgraced the integrity of the game, your stats are tainted. You don't deserve the honor. -- Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) January 18, 2019 Many will...

The Orioles are expected to hire Doug Brocail as their next pitching coach. The club however, has not yet officially announced the addition of any coaches for new manager Brandon Hyde. But Brocail's anticipated addition drew some praise this week. The 51-year-old former big league pitcher worked in the Houston organization from 2010 through 2015 and was the Astros' major league pitching coach from June 2011 through the 2013 season and was later a special assistant. He was pitching coach for...

Seeking for some more experienced left-handed options in their bullpen, the Nationals have signed veteran Vidal Nuño to a minor-league contract with an invitation to compete for a job in big-league camp this spring. The deal, confirmed by a club source, will pay Nuño $1.3 million if he makes the major league roster, according to Fancred's Jon Heyman. It includes an opt-out clause if Nuño doesn't make the team. Nuño, 31, posted a 1.64 ERA and 1.030 WHIP in 17 appearances for the...

The Orioles aren't ready to announce their new coaching staff under manager Brandon Hyde, the assistant hitting coach believed to be the final piece. It's expected to happen soon, well in advance of the beginning of spring training. First baseman Chris Davis knows that Don Long is replacing Scott Coolbaugh as hitting coach. He hadn't heard any updates on the assistant hitting coach when we spoke a few days ago and didn't know whether Howie Clark, who held the job last summer, was assured of...

If you've already renewed your Birdland Membership, you're well on your way to enjoying the 2019 season of Orioles baseball. You'll save an average of 15 percent off individual ticket prices - with the same members-only pricing you enjoyed in 2018 - and there are six membership options, allowing fans to choose the one that's right for them. But there are a host of perks that will be available only to Birdland Memberships members, based on the number of games they attend and the number of...

Yesterday we looked at each of the Nationals' position players and asked if they are likely to be better, worse or the same in 2019. Today we'll do the same exercise with the club's pitching staff. In some cases, this is simply about one player and examining his chances for improvement or regression from last year. But in some cases, this is about a specific role on the staff and whether or not the club has adequately improved the position so far this winter. Again, there's still time for...

The Orioles today announced that the fourth annual "Athletes & Artists Play for Kids," a weekend of song and sport to support arts education and girls' empowerment, will take place at Ed Smith Stadium on March 1-3, 2019. The weekend features the fourth annual "Nashville's Music Row Comes to the Ballpark" charity benefit, two Orioles home games, artist workshops and health and wellness sessions for local youth, and an on-field performance from Country music rising superstar and 11-time...

At this point, we have a pretty good idea what the 2019 Nationals are going to look like (with one obvious unknown still lingering out there). We can't wait forever for Bryce Harper to make his decision, though, so we're going to have to proceed around here as though the big guy isn't coming back to Washington. (If he does, well, we'll deal with that when it happens.) So the real question that must be asked is this: Are the 2019 Nationals going to be better than the 2018 Nationals? There...