Outfielder Michael A. Taylor advanced well in 2014, moving from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Syracuse all the way to the Nationals. Taylor's jump was big, considering he spent 2012 and 2013 with high Single-A Potomac. He hit .304 in the minors last season, collecting 20 doubles, three triples, 23 homers and 64 RBIs in 110 games. The power display was 10 more homers than he had hit in 2012 and 2013 combined. Taylor then played 17 games with the Nationals and had eight hits with one...

What are the chances that Major League Baseball honors Hall of Famer Ernie Banks by instructing every team to play one single-admission doubleheader? Slim and none, I'm sure, but what a gesture. Let's all vow to set aside a day and play two. It doesn't have to be baseball, either. Get as creative as you want. Who am I to judge? Former Orioles executive Jim Duquette, now a baseball analyst on MLB Network Radio, tackled more questions yesterday about his cousin Dan Duquette on "Wall to...

A few Sunday news items and notes: * The Orioles sure didn't seem to have any interest in outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who agreed to a one-year deal worth a base salary of $2 million with the Miami Marlins. Perhaps there was good reason for the lack of interest, starting with the fact that Ichiro is now 41 and his best days are well in the past. Maybe if the Orioles were out to just "do something" as some fans say, they could have made a play for Ichiro, who has 2,844 career hits. Between...

We all know the situation Tanner Roark is in. After winning 15 games last season and posting a stellar 2.85 ERA in a breakout year, Roark, almost unfathomably, will likely start the season in the Nationals' bullpen. That is, of course, assuming that the Nats don't trade any of their starting pitchers before opening day. There's always the chance of injury when it comes to pitchers, however, and even if Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez are all...

What I am about to write is in no way intended to diminish Dan Duquette's impact on the Orioles since they hired him in November 2011 as executive vice president of baseball operations. Duquette has played a significant role in the club's three consecutive winning seasons and two playoff berths. He's become the master of the depth move and has a knack for plugging holes. His commitment to the international market, though tamed by the franchise's reluctance to spend on big-ticket items, is...

Orioles first base prospect Christian Walker got some props yesterday. He was ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the seventh-best first base prospect in the sport. This is a nice ranking for Walker, which comes at a position that is usually plentiful with solid hitting prospects. Maybe it is a sign that he may have a chance to make the back-end of some top 100 prospects lists when they come out later. Here is the MLBPipeline.com write up on Walker: * A two-time national champion at South Carolina,...

The Orioles made a minor deal tonight, acquiring left-hander Daniel Rodriguez from the Braves for cash considerations. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said Rodriguez will be assigned to Triple-A Norfolk's roster. He won't receive an invitation to spring training, "but we'll probably take a look at him," Duquette said. Rodriguez, 30, was 6-13 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.464 WHIP in 29 appearances (21 starts) last season for Triple-A Gwinnett. Left-handed hitters posted a .241/.308/.345...

It's been a quiet day so far, except for the stampede of shoppers in a panic over the weather forecast. The Orioles were on the verge of signing outfielder Nolan Reimold to a minor league deal last month on the final day of the Winter Meetings, but it didn't get done and other teams joined the mix. I've heard that the Indians are the most aggressive suitor at the moment and may have moved past the Orioles. The Indians want to sign Reimold to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring...

When listening to Max Scherzer explain his reasoning for signing with the Nationals a couple of days ago during his introductory press conference, one thing stood out to me above all others, and that's that this franchise has come a long way in the last handful of years. From 2008-10, the Nats lost a total of 298 games. Their winning percentage was .386 during that three-year span. The Nats finished last in the National League East all three years. It was tough to get free agents who...

I woke up this morning, checked my e-mails, text messages and Twitter, and knew that Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette hadn't changed jobs. Why I also checked my Facebook page is beyond me. I must have still been groggy. There may not be any significant updates today on Duquette's situation, but trust me, there will be updates. A day can't pass without them, which is just one of the myriad issues here. Anyone remember that this team still wants to find a left-handed-hitting...