Our next Nationals farmhand on the Baseball Prospectus top 10 organizational prospects list brings us to great speed in the outfield and a steady bat. No. 9: Center fielder Rafael Bautista Bautista had an impressive season for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. In 134 games, Bautista stole 69 stolen bases, which ranked first in the South Atlantic League by a wide margin. The 69 stolen bases also would have been the most in the Carolina League, Eastern League and International League. No runner...

The Washington Nationals today announced additions and promotions within their Major League and amateur scouting departments. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. The Nationals hired Mike Cubbage and Terry Wetzel as Special Assistants to the President of Baseball Operations and General Manager. In a continued expansion of their amateur scouting operation, the Nationals added Brandon Larson and Scott Ramsay, who take over newly created...

With the news that the Nationals have released catcher Jhonatan Solano, the best nickname in the organization is now gone. "The Onion" was let go yesterday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, in order for the Nats to protect qualifying minor leaguers from the Rule 5 draft. I'll miss the various onion jokes that were tossed around when Solano delivered for the Nats in 2012 and 2013 - that Solano had peeled off another hit or that he was cooking up a good game. Best of luck to the...

The Nationals have released catcher Jhonatan Solano, according to the team's transactions page, clearing another spot on the team's 40-man roster. Solano appeared in 36 big league games between the 2012 and 2013 seasons, and impressed in his first taste of major league action, hitting .314/.351/.571 in 37 plate appearances in 2012. He hit two homers and drove in six when helping to fill in for an injured Wilson Ramos that year. But Solano hit just .214 at Triple-A Syracuse in 2013, and had a...

During the 2014 season, Andrew Miller pitched better than David Robertson. Miller has the stats to prove it. He had a better ERA, more strikeouts per nine innings, fewer walks per nine innings, a better WHIP and beat Robertson in other statistical categories as well. So will Robertson get a better contract via free agency than Miller? Should he? Ken Rosenthal discussed that question on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" morning show Tuesday. "The answer might not be as obvious as you would think,"...

Six starters for five spots in the rotation. The math still hasn't changed, no matter how often I check the figures. No matter how often I use the calculator on my iPhone. No matter how often I remove my shoes and count on my own. The Orioles are always in the market for pitching, but they most certainly will listen to offers for their starters. Of course, that includes Kevin Gausman. No one is untouchable. But they'd have to be blown away by a proposal. It would have to be so obscene, it...

The Orioles are keeping pitcher Oliver Drake in the organization, signing him today to a major league contract. Drake, who has options remaining, became a minor league free agent following the season and drew enough interest that the Orioles inked him to a major league deal. He's added to the 40-man roster for the second time in his professional career. Drake, chosen in the 43rd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the Naval Academy, went 2-4 with a 3.08 ERA and an Eastern...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed right-hander Oliver Drake to a major league contract. Drake, 27, posted a 3.08 ERA (52.2IP, 18ER), 31 saves, and 71 strikeouts in 50 appearances for Double-A Bowie in 2014. His 12.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings were the best single-season mark in his seven-year minor league career and he held hitters to a .214/.278/.297 line in 210 plate appearances. Drake has gone 32-28 with a 3.53 ERA (545.0IP, 214ER) and 40 saves in 160 minor league games (73...

If the floor seems to be vibrating beneath your feet, it's just reliever Andrew Miller jumping up and down. The guy is 6-foot-7. The tremors are going to travel. The White Sox announced today that they signed left-handed reliever Zach Duke to a three-year, $15 million contract. Duke, 31, will be paid $4.5 million in 2015, $5 million in 2016 and $5.5 million in 2017, according to the team's press release. By the way, kudos to the White Sox for announcing the terms of the contract and not...

There are days during the winter months when nothing really happens in the baseball world. There are, in fact, many such days. Rumors might spread, various free agent names might be kicked around and potential trades might be tossed out there, allowing fans and media members to speculate about what might go down. But often, days at a time go by without any real news breaking. Yesterday was not one of those days. The Blue Jays swooped in to sign catcher Russell Martin to a monster five-year, $82...