It didn't take long for Dave Martinez's coaching staff to come together. Barely two weeks after Martinez was introduced as Dusty Baker's successor, he and general manager Mike Rizzo assembled a staff deep in savvy baseball men that included a pair of former managers, first base coach Tim Bogar, who skippered the Rangers for 22 games late in the 2014 season, and bench coach Chip Hale, who managed the Diamondbacks for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Martinez and his coaches - Hale, pitching coach...

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a two-year contract that includes a club/player option in the second year with right-handed pitcher Brandon Kintzler on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kintzler, 33, returns to the Nationals after serving as one of the key members of Washington's bullpen down the stretch in 2017. Acquired from Minnesota moments before the non-waiver trade deadline, Kintzler, went 2-1 with...

Nationals fans have been hearing for years how Pedro Severino is the catcher-in-waiting on the organizational depth chart. Sometimes, it's hard to remember Severino is only 24 and has only 35 games and 61 at-bats on his major league resume. That's hardly enough time for a rookie to make much of an impression. But with Jose Lobaton signing a minor league contract with the Mets last week, Severino is firmly entrenched as the backup to starting catcher Matt Wieters entering the 2018 season....

The Nationals' search for a backup first baseman with a power left-handed bat is over. Matt Adams has agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Nationals, according to industy sources. The deal also reportedly includes $400,000 in incentives. Adams' arrival in D.C. fills the void on the bench left by Adam Lind, who served as a backup to Ryan Zimmerman at first base and in the corner outfield positions. Lind's power lefty bat was a useful tool at former manager Dusty Baker's disposal...

Pitchers and catchers don't report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex until Feb. 13. There's plenty of time for the Orioles to straighten out their offseason and no longer feel like victims. Plenty of time for the lucky rabbit's foot to stop kicking them below the belt. They kept insisting that they weren't shopping third baseman Manny Machado, that they were just open to listening as teams made their pitches. They delivered a clear signal that Machado could be moved for the right offer, but...

Orioles closer Zach Britton sat in a car yesterday with his wife Courtney and the tears flowed. This isn't how he wants to end his career with the Orioles, the longest-tenured player on their roster set to undergo surgery Thursday to repair his right Achilles tendon. Confident that he's going to pitch later in the summer, but unsure if it's with the team that drafted and developed him - first as a starter and later a dominant ninth inning specialist. Dr. Kenneth Jung of the Kerlan-Jobe...

It's the most wonderful time of year. Out-of-office emails are set up, presents are piling up and end of the year "best of" lists are (hopefully) keeping you entertained. In case you've missed it, MASN Nationals broadcaster Bob Carpenter has been sharing some of his favorite scorekeeping moments from the season on his Twitter (@scorebook_bob). We've decided to take some inspiration from him for this week's #TBT post: Max goes the distance on 100 pitches w/11Ks, Zim hits #15 & drives...

An offseason for the Orioles that's been defined by their willingness to trade third baseman Manny Machado and a desperate search for starting pitching has a new storyline involving a serious injury to closer Zach Britton. Britton ruptured his right Achilles tendon yesterday while working out at agent Scott Boras' training center in California. The Orioles found out about it last night, according to executive vice president Dan Duquette, who confirmed the injury. "We're trying to get our...

A former Nationals pitcher is returning to D.C. The Nats have signed left-hander Tommy Milone to a minor league contract, an industry source has confirmed. He will receive an invitation to major league spring training. Milone, 30, was drafted by the Nats in the 10th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Southern California and made his major league debut with the club in 2011, going 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA in five September starts and homering in his major league debut on Sept. 3 against...

For Wilmer Difo, a little confidence went a long way. When shortstop Trea Turner broke his wrist last season, Difo stepped in to fill the void, starting 52 games in the speedster's stead and slashing .303/.359/.398 in those outings. It seemed that the more Difo played, the more comfortable he felt and the better he got. "I felt super good," Difo said through translator Octavio Martinez at Nationals Winterfest. "I felt better when I started playing every day. I felt more comfortable, better,...