CHICAGO – Rarely does a team deal away two stars, one of them a surefire Hall of Famer, in one trade deadline transaction. Now consider how rare it is for a team to do that two years in a row. Suffice it to say, the Nationals’ 2021 and 2022 trade deadline moves were highly unusual. Teams just don’t generally put the likes of Max Scherzer, Trea Turn

The year was 2021. Yes, it was that recently. On their way to an AL East title and a 100-62 record, the Tampa Bay Rays went 18-1 against the Orioles. “That was rough,” Ryan Mountcastle remembered in the Baltimore clubhouse yesterday morning. That Orioles team would finish 52-110. Tampa Bay wound up outscoring Baltimore by 79 (150-71) on the year -

The Orioles don’t need a closer at the trade deadline. And I mention it only to link to the title of this article. The bullpen must get stronger, and not in the eighth and ninth innings. The club has prioritized middle-to-setup territory to shorten games for its rotation, which led to last night’s acquisition of Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujin

CHICAGO – With a chance to win another road series, with a chance to use their few remaining reliable relievers late, the Nationals yet again put themselves in position to emerge victorious. This time, despite an inspired rally to tie the game in the eighth, they watched as one of those few trusted relievers gave up the eventual winning run minutes

The Orioles made a move tonight aimed at improving their bullpen. The team announce that it has acquired right-hander Shintaro Fujinami from the Athletics for minor league pitcher Easton Lucas. Triple-A Norfolk infielder Josh Lester was designated for assignment to create room for Fujinami on the 40-man roster. Fujinami, a 29-year-old native of Sak

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher SHINTARO FUJINAMI from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher EASTON LUCAS. Fujinami, 29, is 5-8 with an 8.57 ERA (47 ER/49.1 IP) with 52 hits, 48 total runs, six home runs, 30 walks (1 IBB), five hit batters, and 51 strikeouts in 34 games (7 st

CHICAGO – The Nationals made yet another bullpen move today, calling up recently acquired right-hander Rico Garcia from Triple-A Rochester and placing Paolo Espino on the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right ring finger. It’s the club’s 10th bullpen change in six weeks, evidence of a revolving door unit that has dealt both with inj

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Rico Garcia on Wednesday. Additionally, the Nationals placed right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino on the 15-day Injured List with a flexor strain of his fourth right finger and transferred catcher Israel Pineda to the 60-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations

CHICAGO – As ugly as Tuesday night – and oh boy was it ugly – the Nationals still arrive at Wrigley Field today with a chance to win this series and head home with a 3-3 record on the second-half-opening trip. Even better news: The two semi-reliable relievers they still have are both available. Kyle Finnegan and Mason Thompson are good to go if the

The Orioles have signed the following players from the 2023 First-Year Player Draft: RHP Kiefer Lord (Rd. 3, No. 86 overall) OF Tavian Josenberger (Rd. 3, No. 100 overall) RHP Levi Wells (Rd. 4, No. 118 overall) OF Jake Cunningham (Rd. 5, No. 154 overall) RHP Jacob Cravey (Rd. 6, 181 overall) RHP Teddy Sharkey (Rd. 7, No. 211 overall) RHP Braxton B