As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Michael A. Taylor, who wasn't able to capitalize during his latest opportunity to play every day and wound up buried on the bench by season's end. PLAYER REVIEW: MICHAEL A. TAYLOR Age on opening day 2019: 28 How acquired: Sixth-round pick, 2009 draft MLB service time: 4 years, 10 days 2018 salary: $2.525 million Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in...

Yeah, there's still some baseball to be played, but with the Nationals missing the postseason for the first time in three years and the Braves eliminated, there's nobody left that you're really rooting for or against. Meanwhile, the falling temperatures of autumn have got you craving a little comfort food. Something to nosh on while the league championship series wrap up, the World Series starts up and the Nats make offseason preparations for a return to the playoffs in 2019. The chefs here...

The Nationals feel very good about a couple of young right-handed pitchers from the Dominican Republic who did a nice job at recent fall instructional league workouts. Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart singled out right-handers Joan Adon and Francys Peguero. "Those are two guys that have shown some maturity and could definitely be in the mix for a full-season team next year," Menhart said. Adon, 20, a reliever, spent time with Rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals and short-season...

I was asked again yesterday about candidates to manage the Orioles next season. Whether a particular name is in the mix. Whether I can place odds on a veteran such as Joe Girardi or Dusty Baker versus a newbie such as MLB Network analyst and former player Mark DeRosa. We must go back to my previous statement that the new president of baseball operations will choose the manager. We're putting the cart before the horse by speculating on Buck Showalter's replacement. I'm still expecting the...

If the rebuilding Orioles are going to take a turn for the better during the 2019 season, no doubt they'll need solid starting pitching to do it. One pitcher who has room for improvement is right-handed starter Andrew Cashner. His stats took a big fall from his 2017 season with Texas. On Feb. 15, Cashner signed a two-year free agent deal with Baltimore worth $16 million with an option for 2020. The $10 million option for 2020 will vest if he reaches 340 combined innings for 2018 and 2019....

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Bryce Harper, whose eventful season on the field is now going to be followed by an eventful offseason at home. PLAYER REVIEW: BRYCE HARPER Age on opening day 2019: 26 How acquired: First-round pick, 2010 draft MLB service time: 6 years, 159 days 2018 salary: $21.625 million Contract status: Free agent 2018 stats: 159 G, 695 PA, 550 AB, 103 R, 137 H, 34...

The Orioles are once again teaming up this fall with local nonprofits Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program and All Faiths Food Bank to fight hunger in Sarasota. To support the Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program, the Orioles will collect non-perishable food items at Ed Smith Stadium beginning on Monday, November 5, and will host the charity's Thanksgiving Sorting Day at the ballpark on Friday, November 16. Non-perishable food items may be dropped off at Ed Smith Stadium, located at 2700 12th Street,...

Are you enjoying the baseball playoffs? Who are you rooting for to advance to the World Series? Personally, I think an Astros-Brewers Fall Classic would be just dandy, a perfect blend of pitching prowess and offensive fireworks. Best of all, in my scenario, there are no rainouts because both teams play in facilities capable of closed roofs to protect from the elements. Plus, who doesn't love frenetic Astros mascot Orbit or the Famous Racing Sausages in Milwaukee? To get you ready for the last...

I've warned in the past that it's much too early to project how the Orioles will fill out their 25-man roster. It's only October and no one has been hired in the front office and as the new manager. There are so many steps ahead that it would fry a Fitbit. Players will be added via trades and/or free agency, fitting into whatever budget has been laid out by ownership. The Rule 5 draft again could be utilized, though perhaps not to the extent of the previous offseason, when three selections...

Former Oriole Manny Machado is 8-for-27 (.296) with three homers and nine RBIs in seven playoff games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's had some big swings and made some outstanding plays in the field. But he was in the news during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday for the wrong reason. For not running hard to first base on a ground ball to the right of Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia. Machado jogged to first base and broadcaster Joe Buck called him out twice for...