Today, we begin a new series in this space. We'll introduce you to some Orioles scouts over the rest of the offseason. Some fans may not even know their names. Hopefully, after reading some upcoming posts, you'll know a lot more than that. So let's begin ... For many years, Kirk Fredriksson was a general manager for a couple of summer college league teams in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. For part of that time, current O's executive vice president Dan Duquette owned the...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The trade talks involving Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will carry into the weekend, according to executive vice president Dan Duquette, eliminating the opportunity for immediate closure and the outpouring of sentimentality, outrage or whatever emotion sweeps over the fan base. It figures to be intense in nature. The latest edition of the Winter Meetings have come to a conclusion and the Orioles leave the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort without making a...

To this point, the offseason has featured constant debate and discussion about what the Orioles will do to rebuild their starting rotation. That topic drifted to the backburner at the Winter Meetings. All it took were rumors and speculation about trade possibilities for Manny Machado. We later found out some of the rumors are indeed based in fact. The prediction here is that the Orioles trade Machado. The reports that indicated the Chicaco White Sox would part with either Lucas Giolito or...

One of the Nationals' unspoken but most significant concerns of the winter is the status of Daniel Murphy, who had surgery on his right knee Oct. 20 that initially left the club unable to say for sure if the All-Star second baseman would be ready for the start of the 2018 season. In the eight weeks since Murphy had the procedure - officially a debridement and microfracture surgery to repair articular cartilage - the Nationals have begun to get a clearer picture of his timetable for recovery....

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals came to the Swan and Dolphin Resort with a short but clear list of needs. They departed having addressed only one of those needs, but they did so in a manner that should please just about anyone who cares about such things, at a price that should allow them to address their other needs later this winter. The late-night re-signing of Brandon Kintzler to a two-year, $10 million contract that's technically not a guaranteed two-year, $10 million contract -...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Angels, Cardinals, Yankees and Cubs were the most aggressive teams at baseball's Winter Meetings. We can assume Giancarlo Stanton's arrival in New York means the Yankees will be out of the running for Bryce Harper when he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2018 season. The Nationals re-signed reliever Brandon Kintzler, so if the Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley are healthy, the bullpen will be set. The Nationals have to put together their bench and look for...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles have taken two players before in the Rule 5 draft. They topped that today, adding three selections in the major league phase. They chose three pitchers. They selected lefty Nester Cortes from the Yankees organization. In 30 games (13 starts) this season, he went 7-4 with a 2.06 ERA. He pitched at three levels in 2017, but mostly at Double-A and Triple-A. He's 25-14 with a 2.08 ERA in 84 career minor league games, including 40 starts, with 344 strikeouts in...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals neither made a selection nor lost any players the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft today at the Winter Meetings. But they improved their organizational depth with a pair of picks in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5. In the first round of the minor league phase, the Nationals selected second baseman Jacob Wilson off the Cardinals' Double-A Springfield roster. A round later, the Nats grabbed right-hander Kaleb Fleck off the Double-A Mobile roster of...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - While the Manny Machado rumors gain steam and the likelihood that he's traded, perhaps later this week, continues to grow, the Orioles extended their streak of selections in the Rule 5 draft. They obliterated the field today by making three picks before finally passing in the fourth round. They also signed right-hander Michael Kelly to a major league deal and will assign him to Triple-A Norfolk, leaving their 40-man roster at 38. Seeking a left-hander for their staff,...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Nationals front office was working late Wednesday night at the Winter Meetings. And because of it, the club's "Law Firm" bullpen will be reunited for the 2018 season. The Nats and Brandon Kintzler agreed to a two-year contract in the wee hours, a source confirmed, ensuring the veteran right-hander will return and again team up with Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle to recreate the formidable late-inning trio that was so successful during the final two months of this...