Holiday shopping season is upon us, and more than a few folks will be buying replica Nationals uniform jerseys for the baseball-crazy fans on their naughty-or-nice lists. There's nothing like a successful season - a second National League East title and playoff appearance in three seasons - to jack up sales in the official team store or via your favorite Major League Baseball-approved website. There are few things more American than baseball, apple pie, Chevrolet - and the ringing of cash...

Earlier this week, Matt Williams was named National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. This season, the Nationals faced multiple key injuries and were still able to run away with the NL East title while earning the top seed in the NL. Not too shabby for the new guy. We got to see Williams and the Nats take it all in the night they clinched the division. In the middle of the craziness, Williams huddled the team together, raised a glass and shared a...

We all knew Clayton Kershaw was going to win the National League Cy Young Award last night. He did. We all figured it was going to be a unanimous vote, after Kershaw went a ridiculous 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 198 1/3 innings this season. It was. Kershaw became just the 14th pitcher to win the NL Cy Young by a unanimous vote, joining Sandy Koufax (three times), Greg Maddux (twice), Randy Johnson, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, Rick Sutcliffe, Dwight Gooden, Orel Hershiser, Jake Peavy and Roy...

On Tuesday, Buck Showalter was named the American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America for the third time in his career. This is far from a surprise for Orioles fans. Baltimore has had a front-row seat to watch just how much of a positive impact Showalter has made on the city and the team. Perhaps the sweetest moment of the skipper's career in Baltimore was the night the O's clinched their first division title in 17 years. Fans got to see a rare thing...

Matt Wieters had his right elbow examined earlier today by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, and the news remains positive as the Orioles catcher continues his rehabilitation. "It went well," Wieters said tonight. "He said everything looked good. Just keep progressing." Andrews examined Wieters in Pensacola, Fla. He also has an office in Birmingham, Ala. Wieters underwent surgery on June 17 to replace a ligament in his right elbow, shave down a bone spur and transpose a...

So one big domino in the free agent market fell yesterday when the Detroit Tigers re-signed designated hitter Victor Martinez to a four-year deal worth $68 million. They made him a top priority and got a deal done quickly. Martinez, who turns 36 next month, is coming off a huge year where he batted .335. He led the American League in OBP at .409 and led the majors in OPS at .974. He hit 32 homers with 103 RBIs and raked from both sides of the plate. Where does that deal leave the Orioles'...

The general managers' meetings conclude today in Phoenix and it's doubtful that any team will trump the Tigers' signing of free agent Victor Martinez to a four-year, $68 million deal. Martinez turns 36 in December. Nelson Cruz turns 35 in July and he wants a five-year deal. Four years may not be out of the question, but it's not likely to come from the Orioles. They just aren't comfortable going beyond three years for Cruz. I won't bore you with all the reasons again. Executive vice...

The Orioles re-opened contract talks with the agent for right fielder Nick Markakis this afternoon during the general managers' meetings in Phoenix. Executive vice president Dan Duquette met with Markakis' representative, Jamie Murphy, one day after sitting down with Diego Bentz, the agent for outfielder Nelson Cruz. Duquette didn't indicate that a deal with Markakis is close, but it's still expected to be completed after a lull in conversations that lasted more than a week. "We've...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette remains hopeful that the Orioles can re-sign outfielders Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, and he hasn't dismissed the possibility of retaining highly coveted left-hander Andrew Miller. Duquette met with Cruz and agent Diego Bentz yesterday at the general managers' meetings in Phoenix and could sit down with Markakis' representative, Jamie Murphy, later today. Nothing is scheduled at the moment, I've heard, but there are plenty of hours left before...

A day after Matt Williams won National League Manager of the Year honors, the Nationals announced that they will welcome back his entire coaching staff from the 2014 season. All seven members of the Nats coaching staff - bench coach Randy Knorr, pitching coach Steve McCatty, hitting coach Rick Schu, third base coach Bobby Henley, first base coach Tony Tarasco, bullpen coach Matt LeCroy and defensive coordinator/advance coach Mark Weidemaier - will be back in 2015. This marks the first time...