Just a few short days ago, we were sitting around a lovely Thanksgiving table setting with family and friends while shoveling turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and all sorts of food into our mouths. What a beautiful, American tradition. And now, with Thanksgiving come and gone, we are officially settling into the holiday season, which means only one thing for Nationals fans: Winterfest! The Nats' annual weekend-long celebration of baseball and the holidays is back and earlier than ever!...

Elgelb Vielma might actually stick with one organization before spring training. The Orioles outrighted Vielma to Triple-A Norfolk this morning after designating him for assignment on Tuesday to create an opening for pitcher Dillon Tate on the 40-man roster. Tate's contract was purchased from Double-A Bowie to protect him in the Rule 5 draft that's going to be held on Dec. 13 at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Engelb cleared waivers, a departure from his odyssey last offseason. The Giants...

It never fails. The Nationals go weeks without making any news, and then the moment I go on vacation they suddenly create headlines. So I can't say I was shocked when - just as I was packing my bags and preparing to head to the airport eight days ago - the first report of the Nats signing Kurt Suzuki emerged. Yes, it happened again. Thanks, as always, to Byron Kerr and Pete Kerzel for stepping in to cover the news and everything else that happened over the last week while I was relaxing and...

While beginning the year with multiple Rule 5 draft picks on a major league roster is something that just may not work out, the rebuilding 2019 Orioles might have to consider starting the year with at least one Rule 5 pick. The Orioles have the No. 1 pick in the Dec. 13 Rule 5 draft that brings an end to the upcoming Winter Meetings. And when you have your pick of every eligible player not on another team's 40-man roster, there is really no reason not to make that pick. The Orioles can always...

The Winter Meetings in Las Vegas get underway in less than two weeks, which will give the local media a chance to begin forging a relationship with new executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. You can really get to know a person when congregating daily inside his suite and engaging in formal and casual conversations. Learn more about his tactics to construct a roster and his personality. The Orioles also could have a new manager, which is a top priority as we move closer to...

MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis believes the three left-handers the Nationals sent to the Arizona Fall League could all be useful out of the bullpen going forward. Ben Braymer, Taylor Guilbeau and Jordan Mills pitched well in Arizona, playing a part in the Salt River Rafters reaching the title game. "Guilbeau has the best velocity out of any of them and probably the least control," Callis said. "Braymer had a great year, (being named) Minor League Pitcher of the Year in the organization. I...

As we turn another page on the calendar, the hot stove is getting warmer. Will the Nationals have a shot at free agent starters Patrick Corbin and Dallas Keuchel? Will they sign another catcher to spell 35-year-old Kurt Suzuki, who is now a Nat again? What's happening at second base? Does Screech's salary count toward the luxury tax? For the answers to these and other questions, you'll just have to stay tuned for the next episode of "As the Nats Turn." The team's past, on the other hand,...

Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb went 5-15 with an ERA of 4.90 in 2018, his highest ERA in any full season in his career. But a season that started terribly for him got better as it went along - a lot better - providing hope for what he might provide the rotation in 2019. Signed to a four-year deal worth $57 million last March, Cobb had an ERA of 6.41 and a WHIP of 1.576 in the first half. But in 11 starts after the All-Star break, he went 3-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.156 WHIP. His ERA was fifth in...

Orioles reliever Donnie Hart arrived at yesterday morning's #StayHungry Purple Tailgate with a box of donuts in his hands. He was definitely in the right place. Adam Jones walked up to Hart, reached inside the box and pulled out one of his favorite treats. Glazed are his preference. Nothing too fancy. Jones and his sweet tooth were back in Baltimore because there's always more charitable work to be done. On this day, he managed to raise more than $125,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of...

Adam Jones has no idea whether his annual #StayHungry Purple Tailgate will extend to a seventh year in 2019. He doesn't know where he'll be playing and whether it will be convenient to get back to Baltimore. Free agency tends to drape a person in uncertainty. Here's a fact: Today's event raised a record amount of $125,010 for the Boys and Girls Club of Baltimore and the Living Classrooms Foundation. Food, drinks, live music and temperatures that climbed into the 60s created the perfect...