The end of the World Series opened the gates yesterday to free agency and Orioles outfielder Adam Jones is included among the 145 players initially on the market. Outfielder Colby Rasmus also is listed with the Orioles, but it's a technicality. Rasmus left the team on July 3 and was placed on the restricted list, removing him from the 40-man roster. Rasmus made the same move the previous year while playing for the Rays and it's doubtful that he'll take another crack at landing a major league...

Not that there was ever any doubt they would, but the Nationals today formally announced they have picked up Sean Doolittle's $6 million option, guaranteeing their All-Star closer will return in 2019. With the World Series now complete, baseball's offseason began this morning, with 145 major leaguers officially becoming free agents. That list includes eight Nationals players: Bryce Harper, Matt Wieters, Mark Reynolds, Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera, Jeremy Hellickson, Tim Collins and Joaquin...

Left-hander Ben Braymer and shortstop/second baseman Carter Kieboom have been named to the East Division squad for the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game on Saturday at Surprise Stadium. Braymer and Kieboom represent the Nationals for the Salt River Rafters, who begin play Monday at 9-7 in first place in the East Division. Hitting coach Luis Ordaz will continue those duties with the East Division team. Braymer, 24, is 1-0 with a 7.50 ERA, but has allowed only one earned run in four of his...

Prepare yourself: The baseball offseason is here, and that means a never-ending stream of speculation about trades and free agent signings. John Schuerholz, former general manager of the Atlanta Braves, used to accuse reporters of blowing even the tiniest tidbit of conversation out of proportion. "Reporters take a kernel of popcorn and turn it into a large bag immediately," he said. In case you haven't heard, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are the two biggest names on the free agent market....

A .378 average and 1.149 OPS apparently aren't deemed worthy of inclusion in the upcoming Arizona Fall League's 13th annual Fall Stars Game unless a fan vote rectifies the situation. Double-A Bowie outfielder Ryan McKenna is conspicuously absent from the West Division roster, which has been released this afternoon. No one in the Orioles organization is represented. McKenna has crafted a .378/.500/.649 slash line in 10 games with the Glendale Desert Dogs. He's collected four doubles and three...

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Greg Holland, a midseason pickup who rediscovered his old form. PLAYER REVIEW: GREG HOLLAND Age on opening day 2019: 33 How acquired: Signed as free agent, August 2018 MLB service time: 7 years, 22 days 2018 salary: $14 million (Nats were only responsible for $161,150) Contract status: Free agent 2018 stats (combined STL/WSH): 2-2, 4.66 ERA, 56 G, 3 SV,...

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Sean Doolittle, who had the most dominant season of his career but missed two months with a foot injury. PLAYER REVIEW: SEAN DOOLITTLE Age on opening day 2019: 32 How acquired: Traded with Ryan Madson from Athletics for Blake Treinen, Jesus Luzardo and Sheldon Neuse, July 2017 MLB service time: 6 years, 122 days 2018 salary: $4.38 million Contract...

I've heard few complaints about the length of Game 3 of the World Series, but this being sports and this being 2018, no doubt someone griped about it. Sure it ended about 3:30 a.m. Eastern time and some who started watching at the beginning, over seven hours before that, could probably not make it to the end to see the walk-off homer to complete an 18-inning game won 3-2 by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Boston Red Sox. But can we blame Major League Baseball for anything here? I don't think...

Salt River Rafters (9-7) AFL Week Three (4-2) First place, East Division Oct. 22: Salt River 8, Surprise 5 Luis Reyes (1-1) continues his hot streak of pitching in the AFL as he earned his first win, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout. He surrendered two homers, but left the game with a 4-3 lead. The game was a showcase of Nationals pitching prospects. Ben Braymer followed Reyes and allowed one run on two hits, notching four outs. Taylor...

The Orioles' list of arbitration-eligible players will be reduced with the decision to place infielder Jace Peterson on outright waivers. Peterson made $900,000 this season and MLBTradeRumors.com projects a raise to $1.3 million. The Orioles will look to carry a utility infielder at a reduced cost and it could be Peterson under a restructured deal. This is partly about money and partly about the need to clear room on the 40-man roster. The Orioles have five players who will need to be...