Even after he was traded to the Cardinals as the Nationals' season collapsed in August, Matt Adams spoke glowingly of Washington as an organization and a city and said he'd be interested in returning. Turns out he'll be coming back next season. The Nationals and Adams have agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2020, pending a physical, according to two sources familiar with the signing. The deal, which was first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, guarantees Adams $4...

The Orioles selected former first-round pick Richie Martin from the Athletics organization in the Rule 5 draft primarily for his plus defensive skills. The glove and the arm. Tools that they need at shortstop. However, there also is the projection that he's going to keep trending upward offensively, encouragement born from his .300/.368/.439 slash line in 118 games this summer at Double-A Midland of the Texas League. Martin batted .234/.311/.332 in a combined 109 games between Midland and...

Mike Rizzo's public stance on the Nationals' need to acquire a second baseman has been adjusted several times over the last two weeks. The general manager initially insisted this wasn't a priority and that he was comfortable with a Howie Kendrick-Wilmer Difo combo until prospect Carter Kieboom is ready. Rizzo's tune then changed as he began to suggest he'd be interested in an acquisition, if said player was a clear upgrade over the current group. And by the time he left the Winter Meetings...

There is going to be a point in the offseason when the Orioles are directing the vast majority of their collective energy toward constructing their 25-man roster and providing new manager Brandon Hyde with more options by improving the overall depth. Hires will be completed, staffs will be filled and the Orioles can expend most of their energy on free agency and the trade market. Trades are more likely until later in the winter, when the Orioles can scratch their free agent itch. Executive vice...

The Orioles today announced that Brandon Hyde has been named the 20th manager in club history. This will mark Hyde's first Major League managerial assignment. The Orioles will introduce Hyde during a press conference on Monday, December 17, at Oriole Park. "After conducting an intensive search, I believe that we have found the ideal leader for the next era of Orioles baseball," said Mike Elias, Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager. "Brandon's deep background in player...

Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde will be introduced at noon on Monday as the 20th manager in Orioles history. Left behind at the Winter Meetings are the confusion, controversy and criticisms over the reported confirmations coming out of Las Vegas. The club has made it official. Hyde is the replacement for Buck Showalter, who guided the Orioles to three playoff appearances and one division title in 8 1/2 seasons at the helm. Showalter learned on Oct. 3 that his contract would run out and the...

The Winter Meetings are now completed, which means the offseason is now half completed. Yep, it's been 10 weeks since the Nationals' season ended in Colorado, and it's 10 weeks until pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach. So this feels like a good opportunity to take a broad look at the state of the roster, figure out what the Nats have accomplished so far and what they still need to accomplish before they assemble in Florida. Here's where things currently stand ... * The rotation...

No longer in Las Vegas for baseball's Winter Meetings, my body is in the process of adjusting to the time change and the lack of slot machines and second-hand smoke. Anyone know where I can score a $40 sandwich? In the span of a couple days, the Orioles indicated that Jonathan Villar was their starting shortstop and then grabbed two shortstops in the Rule 5 draft, selecting Richie Martin with the first overall pick and trading for Drew Jackson. I'm still inclined to believe that Villar will...

Let's run down the recently released Top 10 Nationals prospects according to Baseball America, counting down from No. 10 to No. 1, as the end of the year approaches. We begin with the No. 10 Nats prospect: right-hander Jake Irvin. Irvin, 21, was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma. He is 6-foot-6, 225 lbs., and got to pitch in 11 games, starting seven, for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals and the short-season Single-A Auburn...

He might be overlooked sometimes in the Orioles bullpen. He can't touch 100 mph like Tanner Scott. He doesn't get save chances. He doesn't have a career 1.97 ERA like lefty Richard Bleier. But right-hander Miguel Castro has an important multi-inning role, and last year he ranked fourth among all major league relievers, throwing 83 1/3 innings. In 19 of his 62 outings, he gave the Orioles at least two innings. He went 2-7 with a 3.96 ERA and was throwing well late in the year, with a 1.84 ERA...