General manager Mike Rizzo has admitted that he erred when he decided to put just one left-hander in the Nationals bullpen going into the start of the 2013 season. Rizzo and the Nationals looked around for left-handed relievers last winter, but instead of adding a new face or retaining Sean Burnett, Michael Gonzalez or Tom Gorzelanny, they opted to break camp with starter-turned-reliever Zach Duke as their lone southpaw in the 'pen. That didn't exactly work out as planned. Duke pitched to...

While wondering whether Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson presenting Manny Machado with his Gold Glove last night was also a passing of the torch ... The list of minor league free agents includes a 39-year-old pitcher who spent the entire 2013 season at the Triple-A level and isn't ready to quit. Left-hander Mark Hendrickson is putting retirement on hold and will attempt to latch on with a club before spring training. He transitioned into a sidearmer at the advice of Orioles manager Buck...

Since the conclusion of the 2013 season, third baseman Manny Machado won a Rawlings Gold Glove and a Fielding Bible Award, and last night was named the Orioles' 2013 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year. Now comes another honor. Machado received the Rawlings Platinum Glove tonight as the best defensive player in the American League, the announcement coming at the annual Gold Glove Awards dinner in New York City. The Platinum Glove was been handed out for the past three seasons. Rangers third...

The Orioles are prepared to name Braves special assistant Dom Chiti as their new bullpen coach, according to industry sources. An announcement could come on Monday. Chiti, 54, pitched, coached and scouted in the Orioles system, and served as manager Buck Showalter's bullpen coach with the Texas Rangers in 2006. Chiti last pitched professionally with Single-A Hagerstown, an Orioles affiliate, back in 1981. Chiti started his coaching career with the Rangers in 1982 before joining the Orioles....

It was on display in the playoffs, whether it was Michael Wacha or Trevor Rosenthal of the St. Louis Cardinals throwing the ball by a hitter or the Detroit Tigers staff ringing up another strikeout. It was an impressive display of power pitching. A good fastball has always been valued in the sport, but are we entering an era when power pitching will be more important and more sought-after than ever? The combination of a starter who can throw mid-90s heat like Wacha and a closer with...

Right-handers Lucas Giolito and Jake Johansen made positive progress last month at the fall instructional league conducted by the Nationals in Viera, Fla. This week they completed a strength and conditioning camp at the same location. Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams said both looked very good in their workouts and pitching performances during the October instructional league. "Well, I think they are really on the right track heading forward," Williams said. "They both...

The Orioles still haven't announced who will serve as their bullpen coach next season, but I'm told that they could make the hire on Monday. Bill Castro, who moved from bullpen coach to pitching coach on Aug. 15 after Rick Adair took a personal leave of absence, hasn't been contacted by the club. Neither has Scott McGregor, who replaced Castro in the bullpen. Castro was hired as bullpen coach prior to the 2012 season after spending 37 years in the Milwaukee Brewers organization as a...

Could the Orioles have any interest in free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran? What about first baseman/DH Kendrys Morales? Or outfielder Shin-Soo Choo? What about pitchers Hiroki Kuroda or Ervin Santana? Well, if the O's do have any interest in any of those players - and a few others - it will cost a first-round draft pick to sign them. The players I mentioned and eight others were given qualifying offers by their current clubs. If they turn down those one-year offers - and we'll know that...

Beginning next spring, two scholarships will be awarded in memory of Mike Flanagan, the former Orioles pitcher, coach, front office executive and MASN broadcaster who took his own life in August 2011. So far, according to a Facebook page dedicated to the effort, more than $5,000 has been raised to fund the scholarships. One scholarship will be given to a graduating varsity baseball player at Manchester Memorial High School in Manchester, N.H., Flanagan's alma mater, who has progressed through...

Want to add a free agent starter this offseason? You're going to have to back up a few Brinks trucks to land your guy. Or maybe a few dozen. FOXsports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that free agent righty Ervin Santana is seeking more than $100 million on a five-year deal, while right-hander Ricky Nolasco is looking for a five-year contract worth $80 million. This is the same Ervin Santana who pitched to a 5.16 ERA and allowed a whopping 39 home runs, most in the major leagues, in 2012....