John Lannan has now been a part of three big league organizations. All three reside in the National League East. Lannan signed a minor league deal with the Mets yesterday, the team announced. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring training. The Long Island native and former Nationals starter will now hope to land a spot in the Mets' starting rotation in spring training. Lannan went 3-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts with the Phillies last season, posting a 1.520 WHIP and a...

Outfielder Brian Goodwin sometimes was very consistent at the plate last season for Double-A Harrisburg, but also struggled at times with strikeouts. He averaged .252 for 122 games but struck out 121 times. He had 19 doubles, 11 triples, 10 homers and 19 stolen bases. He got off to a great start for Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .296, but still would love to cut down on the one strikeout per game average, with 22 punch outs in 19 in Arizona games. His combination of...

Unless something goes horribly wrong with my day, I intend to immerse myself in the NFL playoffs and a giant bowl of chili. I'll be sure to wear a snorkel. It's the third week in January, which is too soon to give an accurate projection of the 25-man roster on opening day. But why not? Starters Chris Tillman Wei-Yin Chen Miguel Gonzalez Bud Norris Relievers Tommy Hunter Darren O'Day Ryan Webb Alfredo Aceves Brian Matusz Outfielders Adam Jones Nick Markakis David Lough Nolan...

So what strategy will managers use with the new replay rules coming to the majors in 2014? Since the crew chiefs determine what plays should be reviewed from the seventh inning on, the managers will need to use their challenge in the first six innings. Should they use the challenge in the first inning, if needed, or wait for later in the game? Since a manager that challenges a play that gets changed gets a second challenge, I think managers will use their challenge early in the game if they...

The Orioles still haven't decided whether to sign veteran hitter Jack Cust to a minor league deal. Discussions continue on whether to bring him to spring training as one of the invites. "It's still under consideration," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. Cust worked out for three days this week at the mini-camp in Sarasota. He left the complex unsure if he would land a job. The feeling here is that the Orioles will sign Cust as long as he's willing to begin the 2014 season at...

The Nationals had a whopping 10 players eligible for arbitration this offseason, leaving assistant general manager Bryan Minniti, general manager Mike Rizzo and others with quite a lengthy to-do list when it came to finalizing contracts with these players for 2014 and possibly beyond. Minniti, Rizzo and company checked off most of the items on that list within the last handful of weeks, agreeing to one-year deals with left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins, left-hander Ross Detwiler, right-hander...

Liam Hendriks was destined to join the Orioles. He's been connected to them so many times, it just seemed inevitable. Hendriks can rattle off the incidents in order, and with a smile on his bearded face. Maybe they're mere coincidences, but he comes across as Baltimore baseball's version of Forrest Gump. Hendriks was scratched from an April 2012 start at Camden Yards after coming down with a severe case of food poisoning. He was supposed to work the finale of a three-game season-opening...

It has been a winter with some Matt Wieters rumors. There were rumblings that the Orioles have approached Wieters and agent Scott Boras about a long-term contract, but did not make much progress. That led to rumors that the club was open to trading Wieters. At this point, there's been no long-term deal or trade. Is it a coincidence that of the six players who were eligible for arbitration, the only one yet to agree to terms with the club is Wieters? Wieters is seeking $8.75 million through...

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with first baseman Chris Davis, right-hander Tommy Hunter, left-hander Brian Matusz, right-hander Bud Norris and left-hander Troy Patton on one-year contracts, thus avoiding arbitration. Davis, 27, led the majors with 53 home runs, 138 RBI and 370 total bases in 160 games for the Orioles in 2013. He made his first All-Star team in 2013 and was the overall leading vote-getter for the Midsummer Classic. Hunter, 27, was 6-5 with a 2.81...

Catcher Matt Wieters is the only arbitration-eligible Orioles player who didn't agree to terms today. The Orioles have submitted their salary figure and are waiting for agent Scott Boras to make a counter proposal. Negotiations will continue while a hearing date is scheduled for next month. A three-member panel will choose a winner if the sides go to arbitration. Wieters made $5.5 million last season while batting .235/.287/.417 with 29 doubles, 22 homers and 79 RBIs. Boras turned down the...