The Nationals were thrilled a couple of years ago when they were able to sign international prospects Yasel Antuna and Luis Garcia. Both have made it to the top 10 on the 2019 Nats prospects list per Baseball America. Antuna, 19, was the publication's No. 14 international prospect in the 2016 class, and the Nats like the power he was capable of producing at the plate. But this past season, he had Tommy John surgery and is now on the road to recovery. He has primarily played shortstop, but can...

The National League East hasn't been decided by fewer than seven games since 2012, and the division race hasn't come down to the season's final weekend since 2008. We have no way of knowing yet how it'll play out in 2019, but this much is safe to say: Right now, four of the division's five clubs are acting like they expect to be in the mix. No division has been more aggressive so far this winter than the NL East, with the Nationals, Phillies, Mets and reigning champion Braves all making...

The Orioles will introduce Brandon Hyde today as the 20th manager in club history during a noon press conference at Camden Yards. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, hired a month earlier, will join Hyde in the auxiliary clubhouse. Hyde brings 16 years of professional coaching experience, though only one game as a major league manager. He was the Cubs bench coach in 2014 and 2018 and the first base coach from 2015-17 after serving as Marlins bench coach from June 2010...

The trading of a player months before he becomes a free agent often comes with an important caveat: "We can always re-sign him over the winter." Truth is, it rarely happens. Whether it's the bad blood a player feels toward an organization for dealing him away or a genuine lack of interest from the club in bringing said player back, these reunions just don't take place very often. In the case of Matt Adams and the Nationals, though, this always felt like a distinct possibility. For one...

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...