The major league debut for right-hander A.J. Cole did not go as well as he might have envisioned. That night at Turner Field certainly did not demonstrate the capabilities the laser-throwing prospect had shown at the minor league level. In his April 28 debut at Atlanta, Cole registered two innings and allowed nine runs, four them earned on nine hits, with one walk, one strikeout on 55 pitches. "The way I look at it is it's good to get up there and get the feel for it. I went down and had a...

Bryce Harper strolled through the curtains into the makeshift media area at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Sunday morning, and spoke in the nation's capital for the first time as the National League's Most Valuable Player at this weekend's Winterfest. "It was just very good for our family, the organization and the team," a humble Harper said about his honor. As phenomenal as Harper's record-breaking season was, it was not without a controversy. The slugger was involved in a...

He was easily among the best starting pitchers on the Orioles farm last year and maybe the best of them all. And as of yesterday, 30-year-old right-hander Terry Doyle is back with the organization, agreeing to a minor league contract with the Orioles. In 2015, in 26 games (21 starts) between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, Doyle went 16-2 with a 2.16 ERA. Over 158 2/3 innings, he gave up 137 hits with just 22 walks and 110 strikeouts. He went 12-1 with a 1.97 ERA for Bowie. In seven...

The Winter Meetings are over. FanFest is over. I'm just sitting here crossing items off my list. The biggest news to come out of the Convention Center involved first baseman Chris Davis. He didn't emerge from behind a curtain, arms raised in the air, dollar bills stuffed in his pockets. Executive vice president Dan Duquette stated quite clearly that the Orioles' offer no longer was on the table. I'll stress again that the door isn't closed, but the club's frustration is showing and any...

Outfielder Jason Heyward was the latest of the marquee free agents passing on a lucrative offer from the Nationals, instead signing with another ballclub. Like infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist, Heyward chose to take his talents to Wrigley Field next season. Right-hander Darren O'Day, the best reliever available on the free agent market, gave the Nats their first bit of bad news in free agency a week ago when he decided to stay with the Orioles. General manager Mike Rizzo was disappointed the...

Todays' FanFest at the Convention Center attracted a crowd that eclipsed 11,500, according to a team official. I'll be dispensing quotes over the next few days, but here's a portion of Matt Wieters' interview, which leaned hard on his decision to take the $15.8 million qualifying offer. "If you asked me going into the offseason, I always hoped to be back and didn't know what the decision was going to be, and very grateful that I was able to make a decision seven days after the season and...

Between mingling with fans, signing autographs and participating in game shows during Winterfest, Nationals players were shuffled through the bowels of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for media sessions. A common question posed to most was how the team deals with the fallout from Jonathan Papelbon's dugout brawl with Bryce Harper as the Nationals proceed into 2016. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has reportedly pursued other closers while attempting to deal Papelbon with no...

The Nationals have attempted adding sexy pieces to their ballclub early this offseason, like their recent hot pursuit of free agent outfielder Jason Heyward. But general manager Mike Rizzo's biggest challenge over the winter months was overhauling a bullpen that stumbled mightily in a pennant race last season. So far, Rizzo has landed three relievers through free agency and two more via trade in the makeover. But the biggest decision facing Rizzo is how to work through the mess at the back...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't keeping close tabs on Chris Davis or his negotiations. He can't escape the questions, but he won't be consumed by them. "I don't dwell on it. I don't spend much time on it. I really don't," he said at today's FanFest. "We have been and will be competitive to a point. They've got to make a decision, how much is enough, and the game will move on without me, you, him and the Orioles. We'd like to have him, but we'll be fine either way. I know there...

We've been home less than 48 hours from the Winter Meetings, but the rumors continue to swirl. The Nationals remain in contact with the Rockies about a trio of left-handed hitting outfielders, one of the areas that general manager Mike Rizzo specifically wanted to improve this offseason. That's not to say that veteran slugger Carlos Gonzalez, center fielder Charlie Blackmon or left fielder Corey Dickerson are being fitted for curly W caps, but that the teams continue to talk is proof that at...