With just two days remaining in 2015, plenty of attractive free agent outfielders remain on the open market. Beyond the Cubs winning the Jason Heyward sweepstakes - which the Nationals were in on - it's been a quiet hot stove for a bunch of big names and big bats in the outfield. Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon headline the group still unsigned. You could throw Chris Davis in there, though he is likely to be inked to a long-term deal as a first baseman, not an outfielder. The...

The Nationals have reached a one-year, $3 million deal with free agent infielder Stephen Drew, according to CBSSports.com. Drew, 32, provides middle infield depth behind presumed starters Daniel Murphy at second base and Danny Espinosa at shortstop. The 10-year veteran brings another left-handed bat to Washington's offensive attack. But Drew hit just .201/.217/.381 in 131 games for the Yankees last season. He did smack 17 homers - his best mark since 21 in 2008 - and drove in 44 runs. Two of...

Catcher Jakson Reetz hurt his left wrist during the season, so when he arrived at instructional league in October, the staff had him work on his swing in a unique way. Reetz was able to play 36 games for short-season Single-A Auburn before being shut down. His last game of the season was Aug. 13. But Reetz, the third-round selection from 2014, was still invited to instructional league in Viera, Fla. Nationals hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich and the club's coaching staff worked with Reetz at...

If the Orioles really are a finalist for free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, his price tag must be plummeting. I checked around yesterday and didn't get the sense that the Orioles are remotely close to a deal. I'm told by one source that a contract proposal hasn't even been presented to ownership. They most certainly aren't going to pay Cespedes $140 million, which MLBTradeRumors.com predicted for him at the start of free agency. That idea was shot down with gusto when I ran it past one...

The Orioles need an outfielder and three key free agents that play outfield are still on the board: Justin Upton, Alex Gordon and Yoenis Cespedes. The Orioles must, at a minimum, be monitoring their markets if not doing more. MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reported Tuesday that the Orioles and White Sox are emerging as favorites "for now" to sign Cespedes. The 30-year-old Cespedes has one edge over the other two outfielders. A team signing him would not have to give up a draft pick. He is also...

The Orioles learned today that they're losing a key member of their front office. Ned Rice, the club's director of major league administration, has accepted a position in the Phillies' front office, according to multiple sources. He will be reunited with Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, and Matt Klentak, named general manager in late October. The Phillies also employ former Orioles executives Scott Proefrock and Joe Jordan. I've heard that Rice is taking a position as an...

The Orioles have reached agreement with infielder Paul Janish on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, bringing back the defensive specialist who made a favorable impression this summer. Janish was non-tendered on Dec. 3, but the Orioles wanted to keep him in the organization. I've heard from multiple people that a deal is in place. There may be some paperwork remaining, but Janish will arrive in camp in February. The Astros also were a finalist for Janish,...

Another potential closer option for the Nationals is off the board after fireballer Aroldis Chapman was added to the Yankees' powerhouse bullpen in a trade with the Reds. It's the second time the Reds reportedly agreed to deal left-hander this offseason after a trade with the Dodgers fell apart during the Winter Meetings when domestic violence allegations involving Chapman surfaced from this past October. The Nationals and general manager Mike Rizzo have been connected to Chapman; they...

A few random thoughts today on a pitcher, a trade and payroll: * If some team is going to give up a five-year, $100 million deal for left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and give up a draft pick, to me that is a big overpay. While Chen had his best year for the Orioles last year, he also has gone 16-19 with a 4.06 ERA in 52 career starts within the American League East. Last season, Chen gave up a batting average of .274, slugging percentage of .496 and OPS of .815 against right-handed batters. In his...

Dominant bullpens are all the rage. Load up the back end and hope your starters can work into the sixth inning. The Yankees are taking that path with yesterday's trade for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, who joins left-hander Andrew Miller and right-hander Dellin Betances. They could deal Miller, but general manager Brian Cashman told reporters yesterday that the plan calls for a three-headed relief monster, with the closer to be determined at a later date. The Orioles' decision to offer Darren...