New Nationals manager Dave Martinez played in the major leagues for 16 seasons. But the man that he worked with for 12 seasons saw him in the minor leagues for the first time some 34 years ago when Martinez was just 18. Current Cubs manager Joe Maddon had spotted Martinez when the outfielder began his minor league career playing for the short-season Single-A Geneva Cubs. Maddon managed in the Angels farm system from 1981 to 1986. "The first time I ever met Joe was in 1983 in instructional...

In winning the World Series, the Houston Astros did so with the No. 17 payroll in the majors and they took down the teams with the three top payrolls in the sport. It was an impressive run of winning. Houston beat Boston 3-1 in the American League Division Series and then won the last two games of the American League Championship Series to beat New York 4-3. They won a seven-game World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers payroll, per Spotrac, was $229 million and tops in the...

The Phillies keep dipping into the Orioles' baseball operations department, mining for talent that again leaves a sizeable void back in Baltimore. Ben Werthan won't return in 2018 as the Orioles' advance scouting coordinator, accepting a job yesterday as Phillies minor league player information coordinator. He held his position in Baltimore for the past six years. Werthan, 31, reported directly to manager Buck Showalter and led the team's advance scouting process. Showalter often raved...

The Orioles have officially parted ways with shortstop J.J. Hardy and left-hander Wade Miley, declining to exercise their respective options for the 2018 season and allowing them to become free agents. It feels like the end of an era with Hardy, who spent the last seven years in Baltimore and won Gold Gloves from 2012-2014. He goes down as one of former executive Andy MacPhail's top acquisitions with the Orioles, and one of the most important in franchise history. MacPhail sent minor league...

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Sean Doolittle, who was acquired in July to help fix the Nats bullpen and wound up excelling as closer. PLAYER REVIEW: SEAN DOOLITTLE Age on opening day 2018: 31 How acquired: Traded from Athletics with Ryan Madson for Blake Treinen, Jesus Luzardo and Sheldon Neuse MLB service time: 5 years, 122 days 2017 salary: $2.63 million Contract status: Signed for $4.38...

Here's what's going on in the American League East as the offseason begins: Baltimore: The Orioles, who finished last in the American League East, are in need of a rotation behind Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy. Gausman had a bad first half and a good second half. Bundy was their most consistent pitcher in 2017. ... They need to search all avenues, including free agents, trades, minor league free agents and prospects. It's possible they could get CC Sabathia, Lance Lynn or Alex Cobb. ... The...

The National League East has three rookie managers - Dave Martinez in Washington, Gabe Kapler in Philadelphia and Mickey Callaway in New York - and here's a look at what the NL East teams will be up to this offseason: Atlanta: The Braves are looking for a replacement to make the roster decisions with general manager John Coppolella leaving because of a controversy involving international signing rules. ... The Braves need to fortify their bullpen and find a power bat. ... Their rebuilding...

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Tanner Roark, who labored throughout the first half of the season but then found himself again down the stretch. PLAYER REVIEW: TANNER ROARK Age on opening day 2018: 31 How acquired: Acquired from Rangers with Ryan Tatusko for Cristian Guzman, July 2010 MLB service time: 4 years, 55 days 2017 salary: $4.315 million Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2018,...

The Nationals have never been confused for a progressive, analytics-first organization. These aren't the Astros or the Dodgers or the Cubs or the Rays. But neither have the Nats been stuck in old-school ways. They may have taken the slow-and-steady route over nearly a decade, but they do utilize numbers and have implemented them into their daily and long-term decisions. General manager Mike Rizzo, a scout's scout if ever there was one, is just as quick nowadays to mention a player's WAR,...

It was a terrible year for right-hander Chris Tillman last season. But from 2012 through 2016, he was a very solid starter for the Orioles and they won a great percentage of his starts. It seems that five-year track record could be a big boost as Tillman hits free agency now. Even though he was one of the worst starters in the majors in 2017, yesterday MLBTradeRumors.com predicted that Tillman would sign a one-year deal for $10 million with the Tigers. He was ranked No. 47 on their projection...