How much money do the Nationals have to spend this winter? It seems like a simple question, but the answer isn't even close to simple. Major League Baseball payroll calculations have become far more complicated than they used to be, thanks to the luxury tax (officially known as the competitive-balance tax), deferred salaries and bonus clauses that are cropping up more and more in players' contracts. But we're going to do our best to try to figure this one out here, because it's kind of an...

You may be surprised to learn that among pitchers still on the team that made starts for the Orioles last year, right-hander David Hess had the lowest ERA at 4.88. Kevin Gausman, since traded, had an ERA of 4.43 in 21 starts for the Orioles. Plus, Hess had a strong finish. No one is guaranteeing Hess a spot in the rotation for the rebuilding 2019 Orioles. But he certainly has to be a leading candidate to join Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy in that starting five. Hess certainly had...

The massive shakeup in the Orioles' scouting department hasn't bounced Jim Howard and Dave Engle from the organization. Howard and Engle, serving as major league scouts, are expected to remain with the Orioles. Meanwhile, personnel in the department who no longer will be employed by the club next season include director of professional scouting and special projects Patrick Di Gregory, special assistant Matt Haas, major league scout John Stockstill, professional scout Ron Schueler, East Coast...

We won't know for another week if either won, but now we do know both Max Scherzer and Juan Soto were among the top three vote-getters for the National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards. Finalists for the four major Baseball Writers' Association of America awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year) were revealed this evening, setting the stage for the announcements of all the winners next week. Voting among active BBWAA members (two from each National League...

The long national nightmare known as election season has finally passed, and the next barrage of campaign ads is two years away. Now that it's safe to watch TV again, it's a great time to relive some of the best feel-good moments in Orioles history. The MASN vault this week yields three of Birdland's most auspicious occasions ever. Starting with today's day-night doubleheader, you'll see one Hall of Fame slugger reach a nice round number of round-trippers, another one set a new standard...

Right-hander Trevor Rosenthal officially joined the Nationals this week. He sat out last season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He arrives with the Nats after six seasons pitching for the Cardinals. His pitching repertoire over the years has included a four-seam fastball, circle grip changeup, slider (or cutter) and a curveball. As he finally returns to pitching in the big leagues, Rosenthal said he won't make any major changes to the type of pitches he throws. "I am pretty much...

As much as doctors, trainers and pitching coordinators have fine-tuned the rehab process from Tommy John surgery to the point some just believe it's now routine, there are always a few surprises along the way. A hiccup, or even a setback. Maybe a few moments of trepidation from a pitcher who begins to doubt he'll be able to make it all the way back. Trevor Rosenthal insists he experienced none of that. Yes, he's surprised by it. But the veteran reliever, who just signed as a free agent with...

What's the most memorable moment in Nationals history? Now that the Nats have been around and making memories since 2005, there are a bunch to choose from. Maybe it's Jayson Werth's walk-off home run that gave the Nationals life in the 2012 National League Division Series. Or Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout game (which I was lucky enough to see as a fan, the only game I attended in the stands that season). Not all momentous Nationals moments involve the Nationals, mind you. Sometimes, it's the...

It was a bit of a surprise Friday that the Houston Astros did not extend a qualifying offer to veteran hurler Charlie Morton. Morton, 34, was a 2017 World Series champion and a 2018 All-Star for Houston. He turns 35 on Nov. 12. Morton went 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA in 30 starts this season. With roots in New Jersey and Delaware, it has been reported that Morton, if the Astros did not re-sign him, might prefer a team along the Eastern seaboard as his next destination. Could the Nationals be a...

October was relatively quiet, at least for teams like the Nationals that didn't make the postseason and didn't make any managerial or coaching changes. The calendar shift to November, though, has already brought a few bits of news, and things will continue to ramp up this week. Today promises to be a newsy day in itself for the Nats, with at least three items on the agenda. First up, Trevor Rosenthal will be holding a conference call with reporters at 10 a.m. to discuss his signing with the...