Let's push aside for a minute the uncertainty within the front office and in the manager's chair, and how the impact could echo throughout the organization. Anyone who's interviewing to become president of baseball operations is going to wonder how Chris Davis and the $110 million remaining on the richest contract in franchise history can fit into the rebuilding process. How a square peg fits into a round hole. This individual will be told that it doesn't. That giving one player, coming off...

The Nationals got a jump on the Hot Stove League today and sought to begin making over their bullpen, acquiring Kyle Barraclough from the Marlins in exchange for international bonus slot money, a rare October trade that brings an experienced late-inning reliever to Washington. Barraclough, 28, has spent the last four seasons in Miami's bullpen, and though he struggled when given an opportunity to close this year, he had been a successful setup man prior to that. The hard-throwing right-hander...

The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitcher Kyle Barraclough from the Miami Marlins in exchange for international slot value on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Barraclough, 28, went 15-12 with 11 saves, a 3.21 ERA and 11.48 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 227 games across four Major League seasons (2015-18) with the Miami Marlins. Since the start of the 2016 season, Barraclough ranks among National League...

We assume - and very likely assume correctly - that the Orioles will not begin interviewing for their open managing position until they hire a new general manager or someone with those duties and another title. But other clubs are also in the market for new managers, and they have been moving along with the process of hiring a new skipper. The Cincinnati Reds have been very active. Per MLBTradeRumors.com, the Reds have interviewed interim manager Jim Riggleman and a few of his staff, including...

The individual who replaces Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette or is given a different title already will have relayed his or her vision of the rebuilding process to John and Louis Angelos. There won't be a more important point in discussions. It starts right there. Interviews are underway and it's possible that the Orioles make two hires, including a president of baseball operations. The wheels, as they say, are in motion, and the Orioles really do need to get moving because...

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Anthony Rendon, who yet again quietly put together an all-around season that merited consideration on the National League MVP ballot. PLAYER REVIEW: ANTHONY RENDON Age on opening day 2019: 28 How acquired: First-round pick, 2011 draft MLB service time: 5 years, 130 days 2018 salary: $12.3 million Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2019. Free agent...

RHP Wil Crowe 24 years old Sevierville, TN University of South Carolina The 2017 top selection for the Nats, right-hander Wil Crowe won his first 11 decisions in 16 games (15 starts) with high Single-A Potomac, recording a 2.69 ERA. But after his promotion to Double-A, Crowe ran into some tougher competition and went 0-5 with a 6.15 ERA. So, instructional league was extremely valuable to Crowe, according to Nats pitching coordinator Paul Menhart. Coaches focused on Crowe getting more...

In this baseball age of Statcast, analytics and the explosion of data everywhere, the hope would be that Orioles players have had access to anything that players from Boston, New York or any other team have had access to. But maybe they don't. This comes from the players themselves and it's not good. "It's been 20-fold (with increased analytics) since coming over here,'' Kevin Gausman told MASNsports.com's Mel Antonen for this article in early August. "We've talked about analytics,...

As the organization undergoes its makeover, decisions must be made regarding arbitration-eligible players and whether to extend contracts for 2019. The non-tender deadline is Nov. 30, giving the Orioles plenty of time to figure it out. A new high-ranking executive should be in place to handle it. Starter Dylan Bundy, reliever Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar are the no-brainers to receive contract offers. The Orioles aren't letting them hit free agency. The only questions pertaining...

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Trea Turner, whose first fully healthy big league season featured more home runs but fewer stolen bases. PLAYER REVIEW: TREA TURNER Age on opening day 2019: 25 How acquired: Traded with Joe Ross from Padres for Steven Souza Jr. and Travis Ott, who went to the Rays in three-team deal, December 2014 MLB service time: 2 years, 135 days 2018 salary:...