Moore leading Dominican Winter League in power numbers, plus AFL Mesa update
Moore leading Dominican Winter League in power numbers, plus AFL Mesa update
Byron Kerr
Nationals
First baseman Tyler Moore is batting .375 (15-for-40) through 12 games in the Dominican Winter League for Toros del Este, with a league-leading five homers, 16 runs and 11 RBIs. He also leads the league with 14 walks. He is leading the league in OPS at 1.294 and on-base percentage at .519, while ranking second in slugging at .775. This is exactly what Moore needed to do: Keep in baseball shape and display that his bat is clicking as he goes after the backup first base/outfield spot next season...
Free agency notes plus more on Fornataro
Free agency notes plus more on Fornataro
Dan Kolko
Nationals
The offseason technically began the day after the World Series ended. Now free agency has officially gotten under way. As of 12:01 a.m., teams could officially start making offers to free agents, this after teams had the last five days to exclusively negotiate with their players who were set to hit the open market. The Nationals currently have five free agents - Adam LaRoche, Asdrubal Cabrera, Rafael Soriano, Nate Schierholtz and Scott Hairston. As expected, none of them were presented with a...
More on qualifying offers, BBWAA awards and Rawlings Gold Gloves
More on qualifying offers, BBWAA awards and Rawlings Gold Gloves
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have taken care of the obvious pieces of business over the past few days, picking up the options on pitchers Wei-Yin Chen and Darren O'Day, declining the options on right fielder Nick Markakis and catcher Nick Hundley, making a qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz, and reinstating catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado from the 60-day disabled list. The only drama centered on when the club would send out the tweets and press releases. Twenty-two players were...
Miguel Gonzalez had another solid year and people may finally be noticing
Miguel Gonzalez had another solid year and people may finally be noticing
Steve Melewski
Orioles
He doesn't throw that hard. He doesn't get a lot of wins or strikeouts. Sometimes it seems he doesn't get a lot of respect. But maybe some of that is finally changing for right-hander Miguel Gonzalez. He had yet another solid season for the Orioles in 2014 and by now, it appears some people are noticing. In 27 games, including 26 starts, this year, Gonzalez went 10-9 with an ERA of 3.23 over 159 innings. In his last 13 starts, beginning July 1, he went 6-4 with a 2.09 ERA. He pitched well...
Cruz receives qualifying offer
Cruz receives qualifying offer
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles made the expected move this afternoon and extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz. The deadline was 5 p.m. Cruz will turn it down, of course, and continue to seek a four- or five-year deal in free agency. The Orioles will continue to negotiate with his agent, Diego Bentz of Relativity Sports, but so can every other team. The Orioles will receive a compensatory draft pick at the end of the first round if Cruz signs with another club. The qualifying offer...
Orioles make qualifying offer to OF Nelson Cruz; 3B Manny Machado and C Matt Wieters reinstated from 60-day DL
Orioles make qualifying offer to OF Nelson Cruz; 3B Manny Machado and C Matt Wieters reinstated from 60-day DL
Josh Land
Orioles
The Orioles today announced that they have made a Qualifying Offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz. Additionally, the club has reinstated third baseman Manny Machado and catcher Matt Wieters from the 60-day disabled list. Cruz, 34, was named 2014 Most Valuable Oriole by members of the local media after batting .271/.333/.525, leading the major leagues with 40 home runs and posting a career-high 108 RBI. Cruz made the AL All-Star Team for the third time, earning his first fan-elected start as...
Nationals acquire right-hander Eric Fornataro
Nationals acquire right-hander Eric Fornataro
Josh Land
Nationals
The Washington Nationals acquired right-hander Eric Fornataro on a waiver claim from the St. Louis Cardinals today. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In eight 2014 Major League appearances, Fornataro worked to a 4.66 ERA (5 ER, 9.2 IP), struck out three and walked only one. The hard-throwing right-hander has a 3.90 career ERA in 219 Minor League games. But in the two seasons in which he has been used exclusively as a reliever,...
Jones to host second annual #StayHungry #PurpleTailgate on Sunday
Jones to host second annual #StayHungry #PurpleTailgate on Sunday
Pete Kerzel
Orioles
Sometime next season, you're going to see a most disturbing sight. It might be in person. It might be on Twitter. It might be captured on film via television or even on this website. But you need to be prepared for it. Orioles center fielder Adam Jones will be dressed in a Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger jersey. Hopefully, not those silly black-and-yellow-striped throwbacks that make the Steelers look like oversized bees. Jones wound up on the wrong end of a wager with Pirates center...
Nats hire Bob Miller as vice president and assistant GM (Fornataro claimed)
Nats hire Bob Miller as vice president and assistant GM (Fornataro claimed)
Dan Kolko
Nationals
The Nationals announced today that they have hired Bob Miller as vice president and assistant general manager, filling the vacancy created when Bryan Minniti left the organization to join the Diamondbacks. Miller comes to the Nats after spending the last nine years as an executive with the Reds, most recently serving as vice president and assistant GM to Walt Jocketty. The 50-year-old Miller will assist the Nationals in all facets of baseball operations. In his recent role with the Reds, Miller...
Nationals name Bob Miller vice president and assistant general manager
Nationals name Bob Miller vice president and assistant general manager
Josh Land
Nationals
The Washington Nationals welcomed Bob Miller to their front office staff today, naming him Vice President and Assistant General Manager. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Miller, who will assist in all facets of baseball operations, comes to the Nationals after nine seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, serving most recently as Vice President and Assistant General Manager to Reds' President of Baseball Operations and GM Walt Jocketty....