A deeper dive into the Orioles roster brings up more questions regarding starter Alex Cobb and how he, like other veterans, fits into the rebuild. Whether it can hold the $43 million remaining on a contract that covers the next three seasons before he's again eligible for free agency. Manager Brandon Hyde says he doesn't believe in the word "rebuild." He believes in "competing," and that's the message being sent to his players. A message that will spread throughout the clubhouse and the...

A lot has been written about Carter Kieboom as a top infielder in the Nationals system. But don't sleep on shortstop Luis Garcia. He is another top farmhand who has garnered national attention as the No. 3 prospect in Baseball America's Nats top 10. He was also the No. 3 prospect available from the 2016 international signing class. The 6-foot, 190-lb., 18-year-old native of the Dominican Republic slashed .299/.338/.412 for high Single-A Potomac, finishing the season hitting .357 in his last...

We don't know yet where Bryce Harper will be reporting for spring training, but we do know when the Nationals will be reporting for spring training, with or without their longtime slugger. The club officially announced key spring dates Tuesday, with pitchers and catchers set to report to West Palm Beach on Feb. 13 (with their first workout the following day) and position players set to report on Feb. 18 (with the first full-squad workout the day after that). The Grapefruit League opener...

If, as it is said, you can never have enough pitching, maybe the Orioles need to consider adding a free agent starter on a one-year deal to eat some innings and help the 2019 rotation. I've written before that I'm mostly not on board with adding a pitcher and am just fine with seeing young pitchers fill out the final two rotation spots. That is after a front three in some order of Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy. But what if there is a chance to trade one of those three with a deal...

While the baseball world balances on the edge of its seats waiting for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper to sign their monstrous contracts, which will reduce the media's baseball chatter by about 75 percent, the Orioles are quietly researching ways to fill out their roster. Much of the heavy lifting outside of it is done. Two big front office hires have been completed in executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and assistant Sig Mejdal, the latter responsible for building up the...

By now you're used to seeing select games from great and not-so-great Nationals teams of the past on MASN. But we're throwing you way back with a couple of "Nationals Classics" telecasts this week, starting this afternoon. The Nats' inaugural season of 2005 turned out better than one might expect of a new club with a bunch of guys no one is considering for Cooperstown. At least it wasn't a losing year, as the team went 81-81. The Nats did, nonetheless, finish fifth in the National League...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy was a slightly better than league average pitcher in 2016 and 2017, but not in 2018. Last year, he went 8-16 with a 5.45 ERA in 31 starts. While he set career highs in innings, strikeouts, strikeout rate and starts, he also set career highs in homers allowed and tied for the major league lead in losses. The 41 homers allowed jumps off the stat sheet. That was seven more than any other pitcher in the majors, with James Shields of the White Sox next with 34. That...

The Orioles have made a move to improve their catching depth in the organization. Carlos Pérez, 28, has agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training pending the completion of a physical. He can earn a guaranteed $650,000 if he makes the Orioles roster. Pérez is a native of Venezuela who appeared in eight games with the Braves and 20 with the Rangers last season and was 10-for-70 with two doubles and a home run. He hasn't done much offensively in the majors,...

There is no more volatile position in baseball than relief pitcher, no more volatile position group than the bullpen. Only a handful of the very best relievers can consistently be counted upon year after year, so that always makes this aspect of the roster tougher to predict than others. Which also makes the Nationals bullpen both intriguing and nerve-wracking here as the 2019 season looms in the not-so-distant future. This is nothing new, of course. Rarely have the Nats entered a season with...

The Washington Nationals announced their Minor League managers, coaches and coordinators for the 2019 season on Monday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The coaching staffs of the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies, Double-A Harrisburg Senators and Single-A Potomac Nationals will remain intact for the 2019 season. Mack Jenkins joins the organization as the pitching coach of Single-A Hagerstown after spending 32 seasons with the Cincinnati...