He has the best fastball velocity of any pitcher in the Orioles organization. On Sept. 20, lefty Tanner Scott made his major league debut versus Boston. He began his career throwing two 99 mph fastballs. The second was hit into right on a checked swing for a single. Welcome to the show, kid. Scott allowed two runs in one inning in his debut, but his fastball, as advertised, touched 100 mph. He averaged 98 mph on his fastball and 88.7 mph on his slider, which got swings and misses on four of 11...

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Bryce Harper, who was on track for another MVP award until his scary knee injury in August. PLAYER REVIEW: BRYCE HARPER Age on opening day 2018: 25 How acquired: First-round pick, 2010 draft MLB service time: 5 years, 159 days 2017 salary: $13.625 million Contract status: Signed for $21.625 million in 2018. Free agent in 2019. 2017 stats: 111 G, 492 PA, 420 AB, 95...

One of the Nationals' preferred candidates for their now-vacant managerial position appears to already be headed elsewhere. And even if he's not, the Nats would have to wait until the end of the World Series to hire him. Alex Cora has been on the Nationals' radar, but the popular Astros bench coach already interviewed with the Red Sox and is expected to be named Boston's new manager once Houston's season is over, according to reports by The Athletic and NBC Sports Boston. The Astros'...

A few times in the past during one of my "10 questions for O's fans" blogs, I ask, "What question should I ask you next time we do this?" Several of you have said ask us about our all-time favorite Orioles. OK. Today is that day. Tell us who your all-time favorite Oriole is and why that player is your favorite. If you can't pin it down to one, mention a few if you care to. Don't hold back and feel free to give us the background story. Maybe you just like how he played or how well he...

While the Orioles decide which non-roster players to protect in the Rule 5 draft in December, six of their minor leaguers elected free agency and are eligible to sign with another organization. Pitchers Logan Verrett, Vidal Nuño and Jason Wheeler, catcher Francisco Peña and infielders Johnny Giavotella and Rubén Tejada can test the market, according to a list provided by Major League Baseball and published yesterday by Baseball America. The Orioles could attempt to re-sign any or all...

Let's for a moment try to view the Nationals' managerial situation in a vacuum. Block out past history and reputation of both the organization and of Dusty Baker. Forget about dollar amounts. Don't consider who else might be available for the job right now. Baker's Nationals won 95 games and a division title in 2016, then lost a heartbreaker of a five-game National League Division Series to the Dodgers, with all three losses in the series coming by one run. Baker's team then won 97 games...

Dusty Baker will not return as the Washington Nationals' manager. We found that out yesterday. We already knew John Farrell is not coming back as Boston's manager. Are these two being made the fall guys for player postseason failures? You could certainly make a case for that. Baker's teams won back-to-back division titles, winning 95 games in 2016 and 97 this season. But they lost back-to-back National League Division Series in fifth games. Farrell's teams won back-to-back division titles,...

With Dusty Baker out as manager after leading the Nationals to back-to-back National League East titles and consecutive first-round playoff departures, one question is on the lips of Nats fans: Who's next? Do the Nats turn to a veteran field boss, someone who's shown a propensity for getting teams deep into the postseason? Do they focus their attentions on someone whose personality is a good match for a star-filled clubhouse? Do they eschew an old-school candidate for someone more cutting...

The Nationals announced this afternoon that second baseman Daniel Murphy underwent successful surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right knee. The club said Murphy's rehabilitation will begin immediately and "progress throughout the offseason." Specifically, Murphy underwent a debridement and microfracture surgery to repair damage to the articular cartilage in his right knee. Dr. Timothy Kremchek performed the procedure. The 32-year-old Murphy had another outstanding season for the...

Dusty Baker's unsettled contract situation hovered over the Nationals all season, but throughout it all, both Baker and general manager Mike Rizzo expressed confidence not only that both sides wanted the manager to return in 2018 but also that a deal was likely to get done once the season ended. Only two weeks ago, as his team prepared for the National League Division Series, Rizzo continued to express that same confidence, even though they had not yet engaged in contract negotiations. "We...