The Orioles added Frederick, Md., native Branden Kline to their 40-man roster on Oct. 30 and it was pretty much a no brainer. They added a young pitcher with a big arm who was once one of their top draft picks. Kline returned strong this year after three seasons from 2015-2017 that were impacted by his Tommy John surgery in the fall of 2015 and complications after the procedure. Kline made eight starts to begin the 2015 season for Double-A Bowie, but didn't pitch after late May, and his elbow...

The Orioles have moved back into the slow lane while navigating through the Thanksgiving holiday. They hired Sig Mejdal as an assistant to executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, which shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. They selected pitcher Dillon Tate's contract from Double-A Bowie, which shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone. They signed four players to minor league contracts, including infielder Jace Peterson, which might have surprised some people. I...

If Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo wants a difference-maker behind the plate, Kurt Suzuki is going to be a backup catcher in 2019. Oh, Suzuki may still get to strap on the gear and catch 50 or 60 games, but banking on a 35-year-old to handle the game's most physically demanding position for 110 or more games is asking for a lot. So buckle up, make sure that your seatbacks and tray tables are in their upright and locked positions, and get ready for some turbulence as the Nationals attempt...

Newly reacquired catcher Kurt Suzuki returns to D.C. as the Nationals look to bounce back from a down year. They missed the postseason for the first time since 2015 and saw the Braves (including Suzuki) win the National League East. Now that he's back with the Nats, can Suzuki help them with his bat as well as his his game-calling and defense behind the plate? He just had two very good years with the bat for the Braves. Or are the Nats OK with average offense output from that spot in the order...

The Orioles hire a top executive for their baseball operations department and fans wonder how it might impact Chris Davis. Mike Elias brings in Sig Mejdal as an assistant in charge of analytics and fans wonder how it might impact Chris Davis. The managerial search is underway, with Elias already doing background work and tapping into his vast network, and fans wonder how it might impact Chris Davis. A new hitting coach? A true commitment to rebuilding? The chance for snow next month? Fans...

When the Orioles took the field against the Philadelphia Phillies for the 1983 World Series, there was plenty of motivation, and not just to win the championship. The Orioles were also out to avenge two heartbreakers - losing a 3-1 lead in the 1979 World Series and losing the 1982 American League East title on the season's final day. The Orioles lost the series opener 2-1 to the Phillies at Memorial Stadium, but that would be their only loss. They took the series in five games, completing the...

We have a pretty good source that essentially informed us that the Orioles need to dramatically upgrade their usage of analytics moving forward. The source is the players on the 2018 Orioles. It was not a good look for the organization when, after Kevin Gausman and Brad Brach were traded to Atlanta and Zach Britton was dealt to the Yankees, that all three spoke about being exposed to much more analytical data and information with their new clubs. Whatever the problem was in Baltimore, it needed...

Before accepting the yearly challenge of consuming as much food as possible without losing consciousness, please take a moment and try to separate Orioles fact from fiction. You won't need a carving knife. Sig Mejdal ranks among the most, yes, significant hires in recent memory. Fact. And the hire, wait for it, signifies that the Orioles are dead serious about incorporating analytics and taking a vastly different approach moving forward. It isn't just lip service. The former NASA...

The Orioles' commitment to analytics as a significant aspect of their rebuild has led to Mike Elias' first hire since being chosen to head the baseball operations department. Sig Mejdal is joining the organization as assistant general manager, analytics, a move that had been anticipated since news broke last week that Elias was the choice as executive vice president and general manager. Only the title had to be determined. The press release issued today by the Orioles stated that Mejdal...

The Orioles today announced that Sig Mejdalhas been named the club's Assistant General Manager, Analytics, reporting to Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias. Mejdal will oversee all aspects of the club's growing analytics effort while assisting and advising Elias in all manner of Baseball Operations decisions. "Sig Mejdal is one of the most experienced and accomplished analysts working in baseball today," said Elias. "To have him join our Orioles organization is a major...