The offseason free agency talk continues centering around the Nationals' biggest free agent of their young history in outfielder Bryce Harper. The Washington Post reported a couple of weeks ago an offer to Harper of $300 million over 10 years with no player opt-outs. The New York Post reported this weekend the latest rumor about the possibility of big-name players such as Harper and another current free agent, Manny Machado, going to the same team, say the Phillies. But how remote is the shot...

We've talked a lot so far this offseason about the options available to the Nationals via free agency, whether the big-name starting pitchers, the veteran catchers or the left-handed first basemen and relievers currently out there for the taking. There is, of course, another method for acquiring big league players who can make an immediate impact: a trade. Mike Rizzo certainly hasn't been averse to pulling off a winter blockbuster. Go back to December 2011, when he sent four prospects (A.J....

As the Orioles introduce Mike Elias today as their new executive vice president and general manager, we will hear from him for the first time as an Oriole. It should be a great opportunity for Elias to present his vision and plan for the future. There are no handbooks or sure-fire guidelines for rebuilding baseball teams, and there must be many ways to build a winner, but things that have worked for a long time still work in the sport. Like starting with a strong foundation in scouting and...

It's a little premature to begin printing out T-shirts honoring and promoting Mike Elias, the Orioles executive vice president and general manager. He hasn't made a single move. He hasn't been introduced to the media, though the wait finally ends today at 11 a.m. However, there are two early nominations for slogans based on what I've heard whenever his name comes up in conversation. "You guys got a good one." "You're going to love this guy." Bobbleheads and gnomes have been created...

If the Nationals wanted to use the Arizona Fall League to determine how close Carter Kieboom is to playing in Washington, they likely emerged feeling pretty good about their top infield prospect's development. Kieboom wrapped up a strong AFL season Saturday by contributing to both of the Salt River Rafters' runs during their heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Peoria Javelinas in the league's championship game. The 21-year-old infielder was hit by a pitch and proceeded to score in the top of the...

It is several months away. but another big decision that new Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias will have to make is which player to take with the No. 1 pick in the June 2019 First-Year Player Draft. For just the second time in Baltimore Orioles history, the club will have the top pick next June. That is since the draft began in 1965. In 1989 selecting first overall, the Orioles took LSU right-hander Ben McDonald. The Orioles have never had the No. 2 pick, and...

With the news on Friday that Mike Elias had been hired by the Orioles as executive vice president and general manager, anticipation spun into reality, the next set of questions can be tackled at Monday morning's introduction inside the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. Among the points that Elias can address: * Is it true that former Astros sabermetrics analyst Sig Mejdal will join the organization as Elias' top assistant? * What are the statuses of vice president of baseball operations...

New Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias will no doubt hit the ground running. He'll be introduced to the Baltimore media at the Warehouse on Monday. Elias for now inherits several staff members already in place and some scouts likely already have contracts in place for the 2019 season. Other staff likely does as well. There is nothing wrong with this and no one coming in would change everything. There will no doubt be some members in the front office that Elias...

Whether in the minors in April and May, the majors from June to September or Japan in November, Juan Soto never stopped hitting this year. Soto capped off his remarkable rookie season by excelling at the plate over the last week as a member of the Major League Baseball All-Star Series team that traveled across the Pacific Ocean to face the Japanese national club in six-game series. The Nationals' 20-year-old outfielder hit .350 (7-for-20) with two doubles, two homers, five RBIs and a 1.159 OPS...

Hindsight being 50/50, the time for the Nationals to have dealt outfielder Michael A. Taylor was probably last winter, when he was coming off his breakthrough 2017 campaign in the major leagues. Taylor slashed .271/.320/.486 with 19 homers, 43 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He posted a .333/.444/.733 line in the National League Division Series against the Cubs and was a finalist for a Gold Glove in center field. But 2018 was a lost season for the 27-year-old Taylor, who backslid in almost every...