We've examined how the Nationals' 25-man roster might look if it was assembled today, a useful exercise during the winter to gauge what, if any, holes still remain. But as you well know, it takes a lot more than 25 players to get through a major league season. The Nationals used 53 players last year, their highest total since 2009 and only four shy of the club record. So it's also useful to look at the organization's depth chart beyond the projected 25-man roster. Who do the Nats have...

Young players on the Orioles will be getting some on-the-job training in 2019. It's been said of prospects in baseball that many truly finish their development only when they get to the majors. New Orioles manager Brandon Hyde concurs and expects some of that to be happening with players on his first team in Baltimore. "I think it's not just us," Hyde said. "Players are getting younger in the big leagues and there is so much development that is still happening with even championship-level...

The hours that ticked away after the last remnants of the crowd at FanFest had spilled onto the sidewalks outside the Baltimore Convention Center could be spent reviewing and dissecting some of the bullet points from the annual event. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias stressed again that his primary goal is to improve the level of talent throughout the organization. Don't obsess so much over the record, though avoiding another 115-loss season would be celebrated,...

The interview portion of FanFest is wrapping up, with only a few more players being led into the media room on the third level of the Baltimore Convention Center. Chris Davis' session lasted the longest, at more than 14 minutes, as he revisited a nightmarish 2018 season, the changes in his workouts and nutrition, his enthusiasm over being a leader in the clubhouse and how the shift continues to be a thorn in his side the length and width of an oak tree. That could explain the oblique injuries...

Orioles right-hander Hunter Harvey is feeling healthy and ready to start the 2019 season. Certainly, knock on wood when you say that. Several physical ailments, including Tommy John surgery and later elbow, shoulder and forearm issues at various times, have limited him in recent seasons. Harvey posted a 5.57 ERA in nine starts for Double-A Bowie in 2018 and threw 32 1/3 innings. He's pitched just 63 2/3 innings since the start of the 2015 season. So he's hoping this is the year to be healthy...

Six of the eight coaches on manager Brandon Hyde's staff are present today at FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. Third base coach José Flores and major league coach José Hernández were unable to attend. Vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson is here, but pretty much out of view as he attends meetings. The Orioles announced the FanFest attendance at 8,000, though it's possible that more people trickle into the facility later in the day. Hunter Harvey said his...

Right-handed reliever Branden Kline, from Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Md., heard about FanFest plenty of times as a kid, but never made it here. Today he did for the first time as a member of the Orioles' 40-man roster. Kline produced a strong 2018 season between Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie and was added to the 40 on Oct. 30. He'll head to spring training in a few weeks with a chance to have an impact on the big league roster this year. "First FanFest. Being a local...

Mike Elias headed to the third level of the Baltimore Convention Center following the Q&A session with season plan holders. It was the media's turn to ask the questions. On no former manager in the dugout as part of coaching staff: "Definitely, that was a consideration and attractive, but we were working with the people available and the scenarios and the people we wanted to get in. It just didn't happen this year. But it was definitely something that was discussed." On broader...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy did both some looking back and some looking forward when he was interviewed by reporters today at FanFest. Bundy said he's talked a few times to new manager Brandon Hyde and new pitching coach Doug Brocail. He got to see both in person last night. A reporter suggested that the starting rotation is a bit of mystery heading into training camp. "Mysteries are exciting," said Bundy. "New staff and lot of new faces around. Definitely looking forward to it. I'm...

Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde spent about 30 minutes this morning fielding questions on the main stage from season plan holders to kick off the latest FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center. Elias repeated that his primary goal in 2019 is to increase the level of talent up and down the organization. The overall record seems like a secondary concern, though improvement would be a welcomed development. And he said the club is...