What more can be said about the season Gio Gonzalez had in 2017? The Nationals left-hander posted one of the best seasons of his career and one of the most consistent in all of baseball last year. He finished the year 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA (the second-best of his career) and continued to prove his durability by amassing 201 innings in 32 starts. The thing about Gonzalez last year is that while he was not as flashy as Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg, he got the job done on a nightly basis....

Tim Beckham became a welcome addition to the Orioles lineup when he joined the team at the 2017 trade deadline and immediately impressed fans in his first week with the club. He started things off with a 12-game hitting streak from Aug. 1-12, which led to him earning his first American League Player of the Week honor (for July 31-Aug. 6). Beckham became the third player since 1954 to have a hitting streak of at least 12 games to begin their O's career. In those first 12 games with Baltimore,...

MASNsports.com Nationals beat writer Mark Zuckerman has been named as the Sportswriter of the Year for Washington, D.C., by the National Sports Media Association. Zuckerman, who joined MASNsports.com in 2016, will be honored at the 59th annual NSMA Awards Weekend in Winston-Salem, N.C., from June 23-25. He's a first-time winner of the award, which is voted on by other D.C.-based sportswriters. "This is definitely unexpected," Zuckerman said. "There are tons of really talented sportswriters...

Though he has spent the majority of his career at second base, Howie Kendrick really has morphed into an outfielder over the last two seasons. Kendrick started 79 games in left field for the Dodgers in 2016, more than three times as many as he started at second base. And last season with the Phillies and Nationals, he started 57 games in the outfield, only 16 in the infield. We'll see where Kendrick winds up spending most of his time with the Nationals this year - there could be a need at...

With the Orioles down to two unsigned arbitration-eligible players, they intend to continue negotiations until the hearing dates next month rather than go "file and trial," according to a source. Consider their approach "file and try." The club reached agreements on Friday with closer Zach Britton, third baseman Manny Machado, reliever Brad Brach, infielder Tim Beckham and catcher Caleb Joseph. They exchanged salary figures with second baseman Jonathan Schoop and starter Kevin...

While the management of the Pittsburgh Pirates is not saying the club has gone into full rebuild mode, the Bucs have traded pitcher Gerrit Cole and the face of their franchise, outfielder Andrew McCutchen, in recent days. The Pirates dealt Cole, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft, to the Houston Astros for four players on Saturday. They dealt McCutchen, a Pirate for nine years, to San Francisco for two players on Monday. You have to wonder if the Pirates have not gone in the last few days...

In case anyone doubted whether Manny Machado would attend FanFest later this month, his name is included on the list of players released tonight by the Orioles. Trade rumors won't keep him away. Put away the speculation and focus on getting your autograph vouchers, which go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. The annual event will be held on Jan. 27 at the Baltimore Convention Center and run from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with early entry for Orioles season plan members beginning at 10 a.m. as part of the...

Golfers have until Friday, January 26 to register for the eighth annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic scheduled for Tuesday, February 13 at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. Individuals and foursomes are invited to participate with Orioles players and coaches in the event, which benefits the Miracle League of Manasota, an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for every person to play baseball, regardless of their ability. The event begins with...

Tomorrow's the day - fans will finally be able to purchase autograph vouchers for Orioles FanFest on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Vouchers go on sale here at 10 a.m., Eastern time. Prepare your keyboard or mobile device clicking fingers accordingly. But tonight's when the planning actually begins, as any FanFest veteran well knows. The Orioles have released the lineup of autograph stations for the annual offseason event, allowing fans to figure out how to best...