The Orioles today announced that they have signed free agent outfielder Nate McLouth to a one year contract for 2013. McLouth, 31, batted .268/.342/.435 (56-209) with seven home runs, 18 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 55 games for the Orioles in 2012 after having his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk on August 4. In six postseason games for the Orioles in 2012, McLouth batted .308/.321/.462 (8-26) with a double, a homer, five RBI and three stolen bases. Over eight major league seasons...

The Orioles have chosen Bobby Dickerson as their new third base coach, completing manager Buck Showalter's staff for 2013. Dickerson, 47, replaces DeMarlo Hale, who accepted a job as the Blue Jays' bench coach. Dickerson has spent the past three seasons as the Orioles' minor league infield coordinator, and he will work with the infielders as part of his new job. He served as Triple-A Norfolk's manager from June 4, 2010 through the end of the season following Gary Allenson's promotion to...

Yesterday, I wrote about the possible ripple effects of Josh Hamilton leaving the Rangers, and specifically how that could impact Adam LaRoche's chances of re-signing with the Nationals. Well, it's happened. Hamilton has left the Rangers. Hamilton has agreed to a whopping five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels, according to reports. This gives the Angels one of the most lethal offensive trios in recent memory, with Hamilton joining Albert Pujols and Mike Trout near the top of the...

The news that Josh Hamilton has agreed to a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels officially ends any and all rumors that the Orioles are a potential match for him. They weren't in play for him. Didn't matter whether they were searching for a left fielder. It wasn't going to happen, but that didn't stop the madness. Hamilton was this winter's Prince Fielder. The Orioles still could be tied into this transaction, however. They won't get Hamilton, but it's possible that the...

For the most part, Nationals fans who treat the First-Year Player Draft in June like it was Christmas Day have not had to wait long to open their first present. Since their arrival in D.C. from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have traditionally drafted pretty high, the reward for usually finishing low in the standings. Take away their choice of Miami Gardens, Fla., prep outfielder Chris Marrero with the 15th selection in the 2006 draft and last year's selection of California...

If you're interested in following Jim Riggleman's post-Nationals career path, I've got an update for you. Riggleman has received a promotion from the Reds and will be managing their Triple-A team in Louisville in 2013. He had spent the 2012 season managing the Reds' Double-A affiliate in Pensacola. The former Nats skipper had been talked about as a candidate for the Astros' bench coach job under Bo Porter and my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko reported that Riggleman was among...

Stop me if you've heard this one: The Orioles could announce today that they've officially signed Nate McLouth to a one-year contract. McLouth hasn't completed his physical, which explains the delay. I've heard that he had to fly back home, but it could be done later today. McLouth was seeking a deal worth about $2.5 million as the Winter Meetings started up in Nashville. The Orioles are giving him $2 million guaranteed, with another $500,000 in bonuses based on plate appearances. The...

Although Cole Kimball is always a fierce competitor when he takes the mound, the Nationals told the right-handed reliever that his innings in the Arizona Fall League were more important than the numbers. But if you know Kimball, and if you remember how he pitched for the Nationals in his short 2011 stint, he is never satisfied with just pitching. He wants to go out and win every time. Kimball pitched in 15 innings over 11 games for the AFL's Salt River Rafters, compiling a 4.80 ERA. He...

According to the latest odds put out by the sports book Bovada, the Nationals are tied with the Tigers and Dodgers at 17/2 as the favorites to win the 2013 World Series. I tweeted out that information last night, only to have about five people respond telling me to stop being a jinx. If the Nats lose 100 games next season, you'll know who to blame. I made an appearance on "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on MASN last night (you can catch the video of my call-in here), and during the...

The Orioles could announce outfielder Nate McLouth's signing later today. He's scheduled to take his physical and it depends when the club gets the results. McLouth agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal at the Winter Meetings that includes a possible $500,000 in bonuses. "I think he deserves it," said Nick Markakis. "What he did for us in the second half ever since he got here. He did what he was supposed to do. A guy like that, a guy with his talent, is always good to have." Markakis...