We've assumed for a while now that Denard Span would be back with the Nationals next season, with his $9 million being a relative bargain after the excellent 2014 campaign put up by the center fielder. It's now official. Span's club option was picked up by the Nats yesterday, ensuring that Span will return for 2015. The club will retain its leadoff hitter and its center fielder, meaning two very important roles are accounted for. We've also assumed for a little while now that neither Adam...

If you're wondering how you'll recognize me tonight on Halloween, I'll be dressed again as a guy sitting on his front steps handing out candy. The cigar and cocktail are only props. I'm not big on sweets, but it's a photo finish between Almond Joy and Snickers for my favorite candy bar. I also can be enticed by peanut M&Ms if the mood strikes me. Do parents still hand out apples and popcorn balls, or am I showing my age? The world's a dangerous place now and they'd end up in the...

One great thing about the sport of baseball is it lends itself to many opinions about all aspects of the game. Some of us value strikeouts, whether they be a pitcher getting a lot of them or a hitter amassing too many. Some value homers, others like players more versed at attaining a high on-base percentage. They are all just opinions, but sometimes (hopefully here often) they produce spirited and interesting debate. With that in mind, and looking forward to hearing your opinions, today I...

The Orioles today announced that they have exercised their 2015 club options on left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and right-hander Darren O'Day. Chen, 29, set career-highs with 16 wins and a 3.54 ERA (185.2IP, 73ER) in 31 starts for the Orioles in 2014. O'Day, 32, went 5-2 with four saves and ranked seventh among American League relievers with a career-best 1.70 ERA over 68 appearances (68.2IP, 13ER). The Orioles now have 32 players on their 40-man major league roster.

The Orioles didn't pull any surprises today while determining which options would be picked up for the 2015 season. The club will exercise the $4.75 million option on left-hander Wei-Yin Chen's contract and the $4.25 million option on reliever Darren O'Day's contract. It declined the $17.5 million option on right fielder Nick Markakis and the $5 million option on catcher Nick Hundley, making both players free agents. Markakis receives a $2 million buyout. Meanwhile, the Orioles are...

The Nationals have exercised their $9 million club option on center fielder Denard Span for the 2015 season, Span confirmed this afternoon in a text message. "Very excited about returning," Span said. The Nationals also announced that they have declined to exercise the options on first baseman Adam LaRoche and right-hander Rafael Soriano. Both will become free agents. The decision to pick up Span's option was an easy one for the Nats after the 30-year-old outfielder hit .302/.355/.416 during...

Come Tuesday night, when you're tired of channel surfing to find something - anything - other than election results, you can tune to ESPN for a civics and history lesson with a Nationals twist. As part of its "30 for 30" series, ESPN will present "Brothers in Exile," which chronicles the path that led two half-brothers - ex-National Livan Hernandez and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez - to defect from their native Cuba for a chance to play baseball in the major leagues. The siblings, both...

Free agency officially began this morning with 121 players becoming eligible to hit the market. They may negotiate with other teams beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 4. This is only a partial list. Another 32 players may be eligible for free agency pending the option provisions in their contracts. For example, the Royals aren't expected to pick up the $12.5 million option on Billy Butler's contract. If you don't mind a full-time designated hitter, he's your guy. The Orioles currently have...

Now that the San Francisco Giants have wrapped up their third World Series championship in five years, here's a look ahead to what will be going on this winter with the National League East: Atlanta: The Braves will try to rebound from their first losing record in six seasons. The first order of business for the new boss, John Hart, is to trade slumping outfielder B.J. Upton, who is still owed $46 million over three years. After hitting .251 with runners in scoring position last season, the...

The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 to win their third World Series in five seasons, so let the offseason begin. Here's a primer on what's going on with teams in the American League East: Baltimore: The Orioles have already signed shortstop J.J Hardy, but they go into the offseason needing to sign outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz, 34, and lefty reliever Andrew Miller. Cruz and Miller aren't going to be as easy to sign as Hardy was. Miller is expected to get...