If it seems like it's been a long time since the Nationals have made an addition to their 40-man roster, well, it's because it's been a long time since the Nationals have made an addition to their 40-man roster. Simple enough reason, I guess. The Nats acquired left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins in a trade with the Athletics on Dec. 11, then officially signed outfielder Nate McLouth to a two-year contract on Dec. 12. Since then, it's pretty much been three weeks of silence out of the...

So, what should the Orioles priority be now that we are about five weeks from the start of spring training? Should it be a starting pitcher? A closer? A DH? Or all three? To me, you almost always go for the pitching. The Orioles tied for fourth in the American League in runs scored last year, and while their offense could certainly use help, the pitching is a bigger priority. I'm fine with Kevin Gausman starting the year in the rotation. But I also have no problem with him working on his...

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico - While you're pondering whether the thermometer will register below-zero readings in the coming days, I'm doing a little former Bird watching in an island paradise, where the local baseball league has reached in its round-robin playoffs. Four teams are vying for the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series, and while catching my first Puerto Rican Winter League game - officially La Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente - between the Indios de...

While the Orioles continue to be questioned for their approach to the offseason, with complementary pieces added but no major impact moves, folks in the industry agree that the team has a nucleus that's the envy of its competitors. One agent challenged me to name a club in the American League East that could top the Orioles in center field and at third base, shortstop, first base and catcher. A few opposing scouts echoed that sentiment at the Winter Meetings. Take away Nick Markakis'...

One of the strange sights from the 2013 season was watching Nick Markakis, a player that hit 43 doubles or more four straight seasons from 2007-2010, turn into a singles hitter. Markakis finished with 24 doubles last season, but, after the All-Star break, he hit just six doubles and two homers in 253 at-bats, posting a slugging percentage of just .300 and OPS of .622. Markakis hit seven homers in April and May and just three in 105 games after that. During the 2012 season Markakis missed...

Tony Plush is trying to return to the big leagues, and Joel Hanrahan is trying to pick up where he left off prior to elbow sugery. Nyjer Morgan, the talkative former Nationals, Brewers and Pirates center fielder who went by the nickname "Tony Plush," is attempting to land a major league contract after spending the 2013 season playing in Japan, his agent told ESPN.com. Morgan hit .294 with 11 homers in 108 games for Yokohama in Japan's Central League last year. The speedster got off to a...

I've already made an attempt to project the Orioles' lineup despite all the weeks that remain before the March 31 opener at Camden Yards. The rotation is just as tricky because executive vice president Dan Duquette is trying to acquire another starter. For now, we probably can agree that Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris are in the rotation. The fifth spot is wide open, but as I stated yesterday on "Wall to Wall Baseball" on MASN - which re-airs tonight at 11:30...

The internet seemed to be abuzz yesterday when quotes from Bryce Harper ran in an ESPN.com story about how players try to bulk up during the offseason in order to combat the natural weight loss that occurs during a season. "I want to go into spring training about 240, 245 (lbs.)," Harper said in the story. "I'll lose about 20 pounds during the season." Various Web sites picked up the story and it quickly spread. Ah, the Internet. In reality, this is the same offseason plan that Harper...

The Orioles' primary focus right now is finding another starting pitcher. It takes precedent over a designated hitter. Unfortunately, they still don't know whether A.J. Burnett wants to pitch in 2014. The Orioles can't wait around on Burnett, the Monkton resident who turned 37 yesterday. They most definitely have interest in him, as I reported at the Winter Meetings, but they still haven't heard whether he's going to retire, stay with the Pirates or give them a chance to sign...

By now, most readers here know I grew up in the Baltimore area as an Orioles fan. I no longer go the games to cheer from the stands, but I feel lucky to have a job covering my childhood team. There are so many memories of going to so many games at Memorial Stadium. I think I spent more time there than at home during some years. The team was really good and being a young fan was great. In recent years, I seldom would get the chance to be a fan except when I would go to watch the football team...