Exactly how many holes exist in the Orioles' 25-man roster as they get closer to their report date for spring training? The calculation involves math, but I'm willing to move outside my comfort zone. The Orioles have two confirmed starters in Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy. The bullpen should include Brad Brach, Darren O'Day, Mychal Givens and Richard Bleier. Miguel Castro will be in the rotation or continue in his relief role. Trey Mancini and Adam Jones will compose two-thirds of the...

Turns out the Nationals' midseason acquisitions last summer weren't rental players after all. One month ago, they were able to re-sign reliever Brandon Kintzler. And now they're bringing back veteran utilityman Howie Kendrick. Kendrick and the Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract, a source familiar with the deal confirmed, ensuring the club has a valuable bench piece - not to mention a backup plan at both second base and in the outfield - returning for 2018 and 2019....

The Astros pulled off one of the biggest trades of the winter this weekend, finally snagging Gerrit Cole from the Pirates in exchange for four young players. The initial reaction from most: Houston didn't give up a whole lot. Joe Musgrove, Colin Moran and Michael Feliz have all spent time in the big leagues in the last two seasons, but none is considered a top-tier prospect. And the fourth player, Jason Martin, is a Double-A outfielder who was left unprotected from the Rule 5 draft and wasn't...

Confirming the various reports on trade talks with the Diamondbacks, the Orioles have discussed Brandon Drury as part of the return for third baseman Manny Machado. Just one of the many names tossed around since they arrived at the Winter Meetings. If you're alphabetizing them, Drury is high up on the list. The Diamondbacks seem to be the most aggressive team among the Machado suitors after doubling back, but I've got no reason to believe that the sides are close to a deal. The Orioles...

Over 10 seasons as an Oriole, center fielder Adam Jones has played in the All-Star Game five times, won four Gold Glove Awards, finished in the top 14 in the MVP vote three times and added a Silver Slugger Award, too. It has been an impressive 10-year stretch, one that began with the Orioles mired in a long run of losing. But starting in 2012, the Orioles began a five-year stretch where they posted the best record in the American League. Said simply, Jones has been a key player and a team...

MLB Network trotted out the first two episodes of its annual "Top 10 Right Now!" series last night, revealing its picks for the best shortstops and third basemen in baseball entering the 2018 season. And it shouldn't surprise you that the Nationals starter at each position wound up high on each list. Trea Turner rated as the fourth-best shortstop in the game, according to the all-encompassing computer formula known as "The Shredder" used for these shows. Only the Astros' Carlos Correra,...

The three-day minicamp in Sarasota provided a few more chances to talk about closer Zach Britton's Achilles surgery and how it impacts the bullpen and its occupants. Get used to it. It's going to continue through spring training and for as long as Britton is rehabbing "I think that we did a good job," said left-hander Richard Bleier. "Brad (Brach) filled in really nicely for Zach and it didn't seem like we missed a beat there. When Darren (O'Day) went down, (Mychal) Givens slid in and...

In looking back at the last week of stories in this space, we had quite the variety. There was, of course, Manny Machado trade talk, also some free agent pitching discussion and a look at Chance Sisco's opportunity to make the 2018 Orioles. There was a post on Arizona's top two pitching prospects with the D-backs a potential Machado trading partner. There was also a look at Miguel Castro as a starter candidate and the latest payroll math after Friday's arbitration agreements. It was an...

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with infielder Tim Beckham, right-hander Brad Brach, left-hander Zach Britton, catcher Caleb Joseph and infielder Manny Machado on one-year contracts, avoiding arbitration. Beckham, 27, hit .306/.348/.523 (66-for-216) with 13 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 36 runs scored, and 26 RBI in 50 games with the Orioles. He was named American League Player of the Week for July 31-August 6, his first time winning the award. Brach, 31,...

In striking one-year deals with all three of their arbitration-eligible players yesterday, the Nationals also got some more clarity on their total team payroll - and its luxury tax implications - heading into the 2018 season. Obviously these numbers could still change depending on other moves the Nats make along the way, from potential free agent signings to potential trades both before and during the season. But what does appear pretty clear at this point is that this is going to be the...