He battled through a grind of a season that included a string of fluky, nagging ailments only to emerge with the third Cy Young Award of his career, an achievement that already creates talk of his Hall of Fame resume. For Max Scherzer, though, the greatest pleasure of this offseason so far has been the mundane task now required of him several times a day. What exactly is the right-hander up to at the moment? "Changing diapers," he said. "Wiping butts." Brooklyn, the first child of Max and...

After a week's worth of rumors and a lot of time spent hearing from the Nationals general manager and manager, this weekend we'll get a chance to hear from a whole bunch of players who have come from all parts of the country (and beyond) to attend Nats Winterfest. Yes, it's time for the annual, two-day winter event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It has turned into quite a major event over the years, going all the way back to the days when the team hosted a one-day gathering...

Did Orioles manager Buck Showalter tip his hand at the Winter Meetings about the construction of his bench? Not the names. The number of players. Showalter pointed out during his media session how it's becoming more popular for teams to carry 13 pitches, which leaves three players in reserve roles. That's a tricky proposition for the Orioles, who must keep Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander for the first 44 days. They want to find a left-handed hitter. They want to improve their defense. Exactly...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - I've been told that it's "highly unlikely" that the Orioles do anything with Manny Machado tonight or later this weekend besides continuing to check on trade offers, though the situation is fluid and everything can change with a single phone call. The Diamondbacks have doubled back to the Orioles after prior surface talks, according to a source, and seem to be more interested. The White Sox, Cardinals and Yankees are included among the clubs still in play, though...

Jose Lobaton has found a new home, but the Nationals' longtime backup catcher will be staying in the National League East. Lobaton has signed a minor league contract with the Mets, who will offer him an invitation to big league camp next spring and a chance to make their opening day roster. The 33-year-old spent the last four seasons as the Nationals' No. 2 catcher, backing up Wilson Ramos and later Matt Wieters. Known more for his work behind the plate than at the plate, Lobaton struggled in...

The top prospect in the Nationals system, according to Baseball America, comes as no surprise to anyone, and that is center fielder Victor Robles. He was so good that he made the Nats' postseason roster even though he had only a handful of major league games under his belt before the Nats faced the Cubs in the National League Division Series. One part of his game that maybe is not touched on enough in making him a complete player is his defense. While with high Single-A Potomac, Robles made...

If the Orioles do pull off a trade involving Manny Machado, should they then continue the trades? Should a partial or a complete rebuilding of the team commence? O's management seems against that, and with both Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter in the last years of their contract, it could get awkward to ask them to start building a team for a future they don't know they will be a part of. But the Orioles look like a real long shot to have much of a chance in the American League East this year...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - While the Orioles fielded trade offers for their star third baseman and top relievers at this week's Winter Meetings, they also checked on the level of interest in designated hitter Mark Trumbo. The Orioles are open to moving Trumbo and freeing up the designated hitter spot while he has two years and $26 million remaining on his contract. One source said teams counterpunched with the request that the Orioles absorb a portion of the remaining money. Trumbo led the...

I could be wrong, but I believe we have only had one offseason edition of "10 questions for O's fans." So it is time for another. Free free to answer all 10 questions or just one or two. Provide brief answers or go in depth with your response. You make the call and you provide the comments and answers. 1) If the Orioles trade Manny Machado, which team will he go to? 2) What return should the club seek for Machado? 3) Are most fans for or against a trade of Machado? Would the fans understand...

When it comes to ranking prospects, few have done it longer or done it better than Jim Callis. For many years he was the key guy for prospects at Baseball America. Now he works for MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com. During the Winter Meetings, I asked Callis a simple question, but one that doesn't lend itself to a simple answer: What makes a good prospect and what goes into ranking prospects? By that, I meant what does he look for and how does he weigh certain attributes of a player? How important...