Camden Yards is quiet now, except for the occasional grounds crew member doing some scheduled offseason upkeep. Seems strange, considering it was only a couple of weekends ago that the ballpark was buzzing with activity during the regular season's final series against the Astros. Maybe you still have the coasters, puffy vests and duffle bags that were given away to fans. Giveaways are nice, of course, but they don't replace the crack of the bat or the sound of a fastball meeting a mitt. Lucky...

OK, let's admit it. You weren't done watching baseball and fully expected the Nationals to be playing in the postseason deep into October. We get it. We're right there with you. And baseball withdrawal is a legit medical condition that deserves a lot more attention than it receives. Yes, you can tune to the National League Championship Series beginning on Friday. But that doesn't solve your Nationals fix, does it? Luckily, we can. Yes, it's time for another offseason of "Nationals...

After watching Division Series in an age of reinventing pitching order, one thing is clear: The four teams remaining in the postseason have plenty of starters. Is it any surprise that Boston, Houston, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee are playing for league championships? So maybe there will be more talk about starters going seven innings instead of how a manager will use seven pitchers to get through nine innings. The defending World Series champion Astros have Justin Verlander (2.52 ERA...

He began the 2018 season pitching well in the bullpen at Double-A Bowie and ended the year pitching well in the Baltimore bullpen. He may have found a home in that 'pen and projects as a key member of the 2019 Orioles. It was quite a ride during the season for left-hander Paul Fry. He spent about six weeks with Bowie, about five with Triple-A Norfolk and then got a late June call to Baltimore, and never went back to the minors. Three levels in one season. "I didn't really expect it (to get...

As our offseason coverage kicks into high gear, we're going to review each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Wilmer Difo, who received extensive playing time this season and tried to make the case for himself as a long-term starting second baseman. PLAYER REVIEW: WILMER DIFO Age on opening day 2019: 26 How acquired: Signed as international free agent, June 2010 MLB service time: 2 years, 110 days 2018 salary: $557,900 Contract status: Under club control in...

Let's push aside for a minute the uncertainty within the front office and in the manager's chair, and how the impact could echo throughout the organization. Anyone who's interviewing to become president of baseball operations is going to wonder how Chris Davis and the $110 million remaining on the richest contract in franchise history can fit into the rebuilding process. How a square peg fits into a round hole. This individual will be told that it doesn't. That giving one player, coming off...

The Nationals got a jump on the Hot Stove League today and sought to begin making over their bullpen, acquiring Kyle Barraclough from the Marlins in exchange for international bonus slot money, a rare October trade that brings an experienced late-inning reliever to Washington. Barraclough, 28, has spent the last four seasons in Miami's bullpen, and though he struggled when given an opportunity to close this year, he had been a successful setup man prior to that. The hard-throwing right-hander...

The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitcher Kyle Barraclough from the Miami Marlins in exchange for international slot value on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Barraclough, 28, went 15-12 with 11 saves, a 3.21 ERA and 11.48 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 227 games across four Major League seasons (2015-18) with the Miami Marlins. Since the start of the 2016 season, Barraclough ranks among National League...

We assume - and very likely assume correctly - that the Orioles will not begin interviewing for their open managing position until they hire a new general manager or someone with those duties and another title. But other clubs are also in the market for new managers, and they have been moving along with the process of hiring a new skipper. The Cincinnati Reds have been very active. Per MLBTradeRumors.com, the Reds have interviewed interim manager Jim Riggleman and a few of his staff, including...

The individual who replaces Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette or is given a different title already will have relayed his or her vision of the rebuilding process to John and Louis Angelos. There won't be a more important point in discussions. It starts right there. Interviews are underway and it's possible that the Orioles make two hires, including a president of baseball operations. The wheels, as they say, are in motion, and the Orioles really do need to get moving because...