They may have failed to advance beyond the first playoff round once again, but the Nationals still managed to earn some extra cash for their brief October run. The team was awarded $2,746,264.04 to be split among its players and other selected personnel, according to figures released Monday by Major League Baseball. That total, which also was awarded to the three other clubs that were eliminated in Division Series play, resulted in individual shares of $36,864.74. The Nationals issued 61 full...

Yesterday in this space I wondered whether the Orioles would use catcher Chance Sisco in a platoon with Caleb Joseph or anoint one of them as the primary starter - assuming that the rookie breaks camp with the team, of course. Don't ever assume or else ... you know the rest. I'm shifting my focus this morning to another rookie, outfielder Austin Hays, who was chosen as the organization's Minor League Player of the Year. Hays could get most of the at-bats among the candidates for right field....

His name came up in trade rumors at the general managers' meetings and figures to come up again at the Winter Meetings. It could be a winter of trade speculation involving Orioles closer Zach Britton. Of the four key players on the club whose contracts are up after the 2018 season - Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Brad Brach and Britton - Britton might be the most replaceable. Fellow free-agent-to-be Brach is a potential replacement for Britton for the 2018 season. The Orioles also have...

It is good that this list finally has a top 10 Nationals prospect who is a starting pitcher. With the likes of Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and Dane Dunning traded away, some new arms needed to take those pitchers' places in the system. The Nats are always keen on Southeastern Conference pitching and a team with College World Series experience like South Carolina is always a good place to start. Wil Crowe, a second-round selection in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, is No. 7 on the list...

The Orioles will enter another season without Doug Fister in their rotation. Maybe we can start up more rumors at the non-waiver trade deadline. Manager Buck Showalter really likes Fister and has recommended him in the past, but the veteran right-hander reportedly has agreed to a one-year deal with the Rangers. He's coming off the board while the Orioles try to plug the holes in their rotation. Fister reportedly will receive $4 million guaranteed, including a $500,000 buyout, and there's a...

Right-hander David Hess has pitched in spring training games before for the Orioles. But that was always as one of the minor league pitchers added for a game as a just-in-case guy. But next season, he'll begin spring training with a locker in the home clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium. The 24-year-old Hess was recently added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. So he'll report with the other pitchers and catchers in February and he could possibly get a long look from a club that needs starting...

The Nationals' No. 1 need this winter, arguably, is a starting pitcher. They've got four well-established guys set to return next season in Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark, but they have no obvious choice to be the fifth starter. Joe Ross, who held that job for most of the first half of the 2017 season, had Tommy John surgery and won't be back until July at the earliest. Edwin Jackson, who held that job for most of the second half of the 2017 season, is a free...

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Matt Grace, who made a career-high 40 appearances this year ... PLAYER REVIEW: MATT GRACE Age on opening day 2018: 29 How acquired: Eighth-round pick, 2010 draft MLB service time: 1 year, 65 days 2017 salary: $535,000 Contract status: Under team control in 2018, arbitration-eligible in 2020, free agent in 2023 2017 stats: 1-0, 4.32 ERA, 40 G, 1 GS, 50 IP, 50 H, 25...

I filled this space yesterday with three players who improved from 2016 to 2017 in a specific area and must continue to trend upward and avoid reverting to previous form. Let's spin it the other way and look at three players who declined in a certain area and must reverse course. There are lots of candidates in lots of statistical categories. Like shooting fish in a barrel. I just chose these four to pace myself. It's still only November. Can Kevin Gausman recapture his touch versus...

We had a few solid conversations and debates in the comments section over the last week as we touched on a variety of topics. We'll revisit a few today and please weigh back in or comment for the first time if you like. As always here, anything about the Orioles is the topic, even if it is not presented in the story. So please throw it out there, so to speak. On Monday, we debated which free agent pitcher is the better choice - Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn? Lynn went 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA over 186...