The Sliver Slugger Awards will be handed out tonight to the best offensive performers at each position in both leagues. A few Nationals come to mind in the discussion for the award. Among them, of course, is Adam LaRoche. Whether it was game-tying home runs or walk-off hits, LaRoche's bat seemed to deliver the big knock when it mattered most. He finished the season with 26 home runs and 92 RBIs, ranking fourth and third, respectively, among National League first basemen. This week, I'm...

Tonight, the Silver Slugger Awards will be handed out to the best offensive player at each position in each league. Nelson Cruz led the major leagues in home runs, finishing with 40 during the regular season. He also ranked fourth in RBIs with 108. With those monster stats, Cruz could walk away with a Silver Slugger tonight. While we wait to hear if his name is called, let's take a look back on one of Cruz's most dominating offensive performances from 2014. The Orioles slugger smashed two...

Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter received a phone call from an official with the Major League Baseball Players Association about two weeks ago asking whether he'd be interested in participating in All-Star Series 2014 in Japan later this month. The answer came without hesitation. "It was pretty much a no-brainer," Hunter said. A collection of major leaguers will play a five-game series against Japan's national team, known as Samurai Japan. Three games will be held in Tokyo from Nov. 14-16, and...

The Nationals were shut out in the Gold Glove voting this year, with Denard Span coming up short to Mets center fielder Juan Lagares and Adam LaRoche losing out to Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Tonight, we get another chance to see if any Nationals will take home some hardware. The Silver Slugger awards will be announced tonight beginning at 6 p.m. on MLB Network. As I'm sure most of you are aware, Gold Gloves are handed out to the top defensive player in each league at each position,...

One night after winning three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, the Orioles were shut out in the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards. The Wilson Award, founded in 2012, doesn't separate the winners by leagues. They're determined by using a formula that relies heavily on scouting information, sabermetric analysis and traditional statistics. The Braves' Andrelton Simmons was named top shortstop instead of J.J. Hardy. The Royals' Lorenzo Cain was named top center fielder over Adam Jones, and...

It sure seems there is a pretty good chance that the Orioles will come to an agreement on a new contract with outfielder Nick Markakis, whose six-year deal worth $66.1 million ended this season. But pretty good chance does not mean definite. Markakis can now negotiate with any other team. It would sure seem strange to see him playing for another team in 2015 and beyond but there is no indication of that happening right now. At least not yet. MLBTradeRumors.com projected Markakis could get a...

Nelson Cruz, interviewed today on MLB Network Radio, stated again that his first choice in free agency is to remain with the Orioles. Winning is his first priority when deciding on a team, and that's why he signed a one-year deal with the Orioles in spring training. It all sounds so good, but Cruz initially sought a five-year deal and the most recent reports have him geared toward a minimum of four. That's not good for the Orioles. Cruz has until Monday to turn down their $15.3 million...

The Washington Nationals announced today that their 2015 Spring Training schedule will conclude on April 4 with an exhibition game vs. the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. Just two days later, on April 6, the Nationals will begin the 2015 regular season by hosting the New York Mets at Nationals Park on Opening Day. This will mark the Yankees' fourth trip to Nationals Park, including a previous exhibition contest in 2013, and regular-season visits in 2006 and 2012. With the Nationals...

Four months from today, the Nationals will open their 2015 spring training campaign. It'll be here before we know it. The Nats today announced their spring training schedule for next year, and they'll open their Grapefruit League season with a home game against the Mets on Thursday, March 5 at Space Coast Stadium. Matt Williams' ballclub will get a pair of visits from the National League Central champion St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, March 7 and Friday, March 27, as well as the American...

The Washington Nationals today released their 30-game 2015 Spring Training schedule, which features 14 home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, FL, including their Grapefruit League home opener on Thursday, March 5 vs. New York Mets. The Nationals' Grapefruit League slate includes a pair of visits from the NL Central Champion St. Louis Cardinals (Saturday, March 7 and Friday, March 27) as well as the AL Central Champion Detroit Tigers (Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 19). The New...