Whether it was a surprise or not, the Nationals chased free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes last week before the slugger opted to return to the Mets. The part that was hard to swallow for most Nats fans was why Cespedes chose a three-year deal with New York instead of the five-year offer on the table in Washington. Even more difficult was that the scenario seems to be replaying itself over and over this offseason. Last month, general manager Mike Rizzo laid a reported $200 million on the...

Did everyone dig out of the blizzard and find their cars and children? I wrote on Thursday that Dylan Bundy threw his first bullpen session last week. Full mound, 20 fastballs and no pain in his right shoulder or forearm. Bundy had been throwing off flat ground from 150 feet before moving to a half-mound at the minicamp and firing 15 fastballs. "Arm's healthy," Bundy said during his phone interview on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "I just got on a mound this week for the first...

After reading this article about some of the top rivalries in baseball, I wondered which team is the biggest rival for the Orioles? At one time that answer was pretty clear-cut: the Yankees. But does that still hold true? Also what makes a matchup a rivalry anyway? That definition is the eye of the beholder. But here is my take ranking the Orioles' rivals: 1. Orioles vs. Yankees: There is just so much history here. Jeffrey Maier. Alan Mills dukes out Darryl Strawberry. Earl Weaver against...

In November, Bryce Harper became the youngest unanimous Most Valuable Player winner in baseball history, capturing National League honors for his record-breaking season. In a snowy New York City, the Baseball Writers' Association of America formally presented Harper with the hardware at an awards ceremony on Saturday evening. At 22 years, 335 days old, Harper became the sixth-youngest player in major league history to hit 40 home runs in a season, behind Mel Ott (1929; 20 years, 203 days),...

It was unfortunate to see second baseman Wilmer Difo go down with a hand injury in his first professional start when the Nationals took on the Mets in the final weekend series at Citi Field in 2015. Difo broke his left hand in the third inning of Max Scherzer's second no-hitter of the season and a Nationals 2-0 win. The 23-year-old Difo underwent hand surgery three weeks later and is expected to make a full recovery for the 2016 campaign. The 6-foot, 195 lbs., Dominican Difo played 106 games...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter remained in Baltimore Friday morning after attending Chris Davis' press conference. He already was subjected to tornadoes in Dallas. Why not add a blizzard? When do the locusts arrive? Agent Scott Boras stayed in Baltimore following the presser. He was spotted downtown. No idea whether he flew out in the morning. I'm trying to be a fountain of information, but it keeps freezing. * Executive vice president Dan Duquette repeated on MLB Network's "High Heat"...

The balance of power in the National League East shifted considerably late Friday as slugger Yoenis Cespedes signed with the Mets over the Nationals. Washington had reportedly offered Cespedes a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $100 million. But according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, Cespedes opted for a three-year contract with the Mets worth $75 million that includes an opt-out after the 2016 season. The Nationals held a three-game lead over the Mets late last July when New York...

Three years before the Orioles drafted pitcher Dylan Bundy, they selected his older brother Bobby in the eighth round of the 2008 draft. The right-hander was signed to a $600,000 bonus. Like Dylan, Bobby has battled injuries in his career. He was throwing well early last season for Double-A Bowie - touching 93 and 94 mph - when he suffered a season-ending right knee injury. He was injured while fielding a ball on May 5 against Akron. He had ACL surgery on that same knee in high school. But the...

So O's executive vice president Dan Duquette told MLB Network Radio that the Orioles prefer to not give up the No. 14 pick in the draft. The O's have been linked to free agent right-handed pitcher Yovani Gallardo and would lose that pick if they signed him. Duquette said, "The question for us is, are we willing to give up our first-round pick and so far that answer has been no." I guess that also means the answer could potentially change to yes if Gallardo's salary demands or contract...

It's sequel time here at School of Roch, as I deliver the latest installment of "Because You Asked." The question keep pouring in and I do my best to answer them as many times as humanly possible. I'm giving you one-stop shopping this morning, but we're out of milk and bread. Do the Orioles still have their offer on the table to Yoenis Cespedes? This one became outdated late last night after Cespedes agreed to a three-year, $75 million deal with the Mets that included an opt-out after one...