Some of the Nationals' best position player prospects are on display in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters. Brian Goodwin, Jason Martinson, Anthony Rendon and Matt Skole have combined to provide a good measure of the offense for the Rafters as they pursue the AFL crown. The Rafters are 11-9 with about two weeks remaining in the season. Salt River had hit 16 homers in 20 games, second to Mesa. They have 38 stolen bases, a league-leading total. Their .393 slugging percentage...

Last week, I wrote about Chris Tillman being out of minor league options and how his status could come into play as he attempts to make the Orioles' rotation in spring training. Tommy Hunter is in a similar position. He's also out of options, but he's got experience pitching in relief and could continue in that role next season. Hunter made 20 starts out of his 33 appearances in 2012 and finished the year 7-8 with a 5.45 ERA. He allowed 161 hits and surrendered 32 home runs in 133 2/3...

Left-handed reliever Zach Phillips has declined his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, according to an Orioles official. Phillips is a free agent, but he already had that right with six years in the minors and having been designated previously. The Orioles outrighted Phillips, outfielder Lew Ford and infielder Steve Tolleson on Friday to create room on their 40-man roster. Phillips, 26, pitched to a 6.00 ERA in six games and six innings with the Orioles in 2012. He made 42 relief...

Nationals outfield prospect Brian Goodwin smacked a home run and went 2-for-5 as the East All-Stars beat the West All-Stars 9-4 in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game at Talking Stick Saturday night. Trailing 2-0 in the first frame, Goodwin, a left fielder, crushed a solo homer to start the offense, cutting the deficit in half. Down 4-3 in the fifth, the East scored six times to take control and win going away. Goodwin had an RBI double in the inning to give the East a 7-4...

Did everyone fall back this morning? I woke up unsure whether the times on my iPhone and laptop were correct, which led me downstairs to check the clock on my stove. Exciting life I lead, isn't it? The Orioles now have 16 arbitration-eligible players with Friday's acquisition of second baseman Alexi Casilla. They already led the majors before claiming Casilla off waivers. Now they're just piling on. Casilla made $1.382 million in 2012 and he's going to get another raise. It won't be a...

Brad Komminsk, the manager of the Orioles' Double-A Bowie affiliate from 2008-10, will not return to the organization for the 2013 season. Komminsk was a field coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen in 2012 and the year before that was the batting coach for Triple-A Norfolk. Gary Allenson, the manager this season at Aberdeen, also will not return. Larry Jaster and Cesar Devarez will also not be retained for next season as part of some restructuring within the Orioles' baseball...

As of midnight, free agency has officially begun. After being able to talk solely with their previous team for the last five days, free agents are now allowed to chat with any team and begin negotiations on contracts for the 2013 season. Adam LaRoche will mull over his one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer from the Nationals, but it's an offer he's certain to decline. A multi-year deal is in his future, be it with the Nats or one of the other 29 teams around the league. There were nine...

The Orioles were fairly busy yesterday. They signed second baseman Alexi Casilla off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, outrighted outfielder Lew Ford, infielder Steve Tolleson and left-hander Zach Phillips to Triple-A Norfolk, and reinstated second baseman Brian Roberts, pitchers Oliver Drake, Stu Pomeranz and Tsuyoshi Wada, and outfielder Nolan Reimold from the 60-day disabled list. I've been asked for my take on the Casilla signing. It's pretty simple. Executive vice president Dan Duquette...

It is a fair question to ask. Do the Orioles now have enough pitching depth that they should consider trading some pitchers this offseason? It appears that the answer is yes. The Orioles have a long list of young pitchers that are lower-salaried and years away from free agency. When it comes to making a trade that is almost as important anymore as how talented the player is. The flip side of the argument is that age-old adage that you never have enough pitching. When you think you do, go get...

The Nationals have extended a qualifying offer to Adam LaRoche, an industry source has confirmed, guaranteeing the team a compensatory draft pick in 2013 if LaRoche chooses to sign elsewhere. The Nats did not extend qualifying offers to any of their other free agents, including right-handed starter Edwin Jackson. LaRoche now has seven days to accept a one-year, $13.3 million deal. He's expected to decline the offer in search of a multi-year deal. The Nationals can still negotiate a new...