As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Max Scherzer, who despite some minor injuries along the way pitched well enough to make a case for his second straight Cy Young Award. PLAYER REVIEW: MAX SCHERZER Age on opening day 2018: 33 How acquired: Signed as free agent, January 2015 MLB service time: 9 years, 79 days 2017 salary: $15 million Contract status: Signed for $15 million in 2018, $35 million in...

Someone needs to explain to me why the World Series managers would consider pulling their starting pitchers and turning to bullpens that insult Dumpster fires whenever comparisons are made. Justin Verlander could give up five runs in the first inning tonight and run his pitch count to 72, and I'd look the other way. Same with Rich Hill on the home side. He was removed in Game 2 after allowing one run, striking out seven batters and throwing 60 pitches in four innings, and the Astros rallied...

The Orioles must be prepared to lose catcher Welington Castillo via free agency. He has a player option for $7 million for next year and seems likely to decline that and see what is out there via free agency. Then the question is: Will the Orioles pursue another catcher or are they satisfied with a Caleb Joseph-Chance Sisco catching combo? Castillo did a solid job for the Orioles, batting .282/.323/.490 and set a career high with 20 homers. As expected, he raked versus lefty pitchers, batting...

Two Orioles prospects have been chosen to participate in the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game, which airs Saturday night on MLB Network. Left-hander Tanner Scott and infielder Ryan Mountcastle are included on the East Team. They're playing for the Salt River Rafters in the AFL. Scott is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts with the Rafters. He's allowed six earned runs (seven total) and eight hits in seven innings, with six walks and five strikeouts. Mountcastle, playing third base as he...

Citing the way he "embraces the analytical side of the game" and what they believe he'll "bring to our clubhouse and our dugout," the Nationals this morning officially announced the hiring of Dave Martinez as their seventh manager in 14 seasons. Martinez, who agreed to terms with the Nats on a contract Sunday, was given a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, the club announced. The 53-year-old former outfielder spent the last 10 seasons as Joe Maddon's bench coach, first...

The Washington Nationals named Dave Martinez as manager on Monday, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year that makes him the seventh field manager in Nationals history. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Martinez, 53, joins the Nationals for what will be his 30th season in professional baseball. A 16-year Major League outfielder, Martinez has been a Major League coach for the last 10 seasons, serving as...

Right-hander Brad Peacock made a big splash in the World Series in Game 3, recording a save with 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He also appeared in the dramatic Game 5 last night, allowing two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. If the name sounded familiar, you are correct. Peacock was a 41st-round draft pick of the Nationals in 2006. He pitched for the Nats in 2011 and went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He has pitched 91 games with the Astros since 2013. Peacock remembered how the Nationals treated him...

Anyone the Nationals has ever hired to be their manager had some kind of uncertainty surrounding him. Manny Acta had worked his way up the coaching and managerial ladder for 20 years, but had never done it on the big stage before the Nats gave him his opportunity. Jim Riggleman was a good X's and O's guy during a ballgame, but wasn't known for being a strong presence in the clubhouse. Davey Johnson had won a World Series, but that was 25 years earlier and he hadn't been in a major league...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided one of the early light-hearted moments at Saturday morning's KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K/1-mile walk at Camden Yards. And I'm not referring to his humorous reaction to my Wonder Woman costume, which both amused and disturbed him. Taking the microphone to offer his appreciation and encouragement to the crowd, Showalter said, "We're looking for good runners, good costumes and left-handed starting pitching." Two out of three ain't bad. The pitching will...

While we wait for free agency to start, we take another look at three free agent starting pitchers. You may have heard the Orioles could use some help in that regard. This past season, Orioles starters ranked last in the American League with an ERA of 5.70, which is the worst mark in team history. It was the highest rotation ERA in the majors since Colorado's 5.81 mark in 2012. O's starting pitchers also ranked last in the AL in innings (846), WHIP (1.52), opponent OPS (.837) and allowed 159...