LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Angels, Cardinals, Yankees and Cubs were the most aggressive teams at baseball's Winter Meetings. We can assume Giancarlo Stanton's arrival in New York means the Yankees will be out of the running for Bryce Harper when he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2018 season. The Nationals re-signed reliever Brandon Kintzler, so if the Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley are healthy, the bullpen will be set. The Nationals have to put together their bench and look for...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles have taken two players before in the Rule 5 draft. They topped that today, adding three selections in the major league phase. They chose three pitchers. They selected lefty Nester Cortes from the Yankees organization. In 30 games (13 starts) this season, he went 7-4 with a 2.06 ERA. He pitched at three levels in 2017, but mostly at Double-A and Triple-A. He's 25-14 with a 2.08 ERA in 84 career minor league games, including 40 starts, with 344 strikeouts in...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals neither made a selection nor lost any players the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft today at the Winter Meetings. But they improved their organizational depth with a pair of picks in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5. In the first round of the minor league phase, the Nationals selected second baseman Jacob Wilson off the Cardinals' Double-A Springfield roster. A round later, the Nats grabbed right-hander Kaleb Fleck off the Double-A Mobile roster of...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - While the Manny Machado rumors gain steam and the likelihood that he's traded, perhaps later this week, continues to grow, the Orioles extended their streak of selections in the Rule 5 draft. They obliterated the field today by making three picks before finally passing in the fourth round. They also signed right-hander Michael Kelly to a major league deal and will assign him to Triple-A Norfolk, leaving their 40-man roster at 38. Seeking a left-hander for their staff,...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals front office was working late Wednesday night at the Winter Meetings. And because of it, the club's "Law Firm" bullpen will be reunited for the 2018 season. The Nats and Brandon Kintzler agreed to a two-year contract in the wee hours, a source confirmed, ensuring the veteran right-hander will return and again team up with Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to recreate the formidable late-inning trio that was so successful during the final two months of this...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The stampede for the front desk and the airport begins momentarily. Keep your head on a swivel if you're in the lobby area or you could be wearing foot prints as a shirt logo. Cutting through the speculation that the Orioles could abstain from the Rule 5 draft this morning due to carrying outfielder Anthony Santander for 44 more days, they most definitely will make a selection in the major league phase and probably go with multiple picks in the minor league...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The interest in Orioles third baseman Manny Machado continues to build as more teams meet with executive vice president Dan Duquette. Determining the market is an ongoing process, Duquette said this afternoon during his daily media briefing, but there's no real sense whether a trade gets done before Thursday's departures at the Winter Meetings, later in the offseason or never. "We're making good progress on that," Duquette said. "We met with a couple of teams...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - While you were sleeping, the White Sox emerged as the most aggressive team pursuing the Orioles' Manny Machado, according to reports from The Athletic and USA Today. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote that the White Sox are offering the Orioles a package that includes right-hander Lucas Giolito or right-hander Michael Kopech, but not both pitchers. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Orioles believe they can move Machado by the end of the week with the strength...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Thursday morning's Rule 5 draft is the last order of business at the Winter Meetings, and while the Nationals probably won't add anyone to their 40-man roster, it's possible they could lose one or more prospects. Teams with openings on their 40-man rosters are allowed to select players who were first signed at 18 and not added to a club's 40-man roster within five seasons or players signed at 19 who have not been added to the 40-man roster after four seasons....

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles don't seem inclined to put a timetable or deadline right now on any trade discussions involving third baseman Manny Machado. They continue to talk with several teams about the three-time All-Star. If these trade talks drag on for an extended period of time, you have to wonder how much that will impact the club's planning for the 2018 season. But as of now, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette is not inclined to put a timetable on...