The Orioles have added some left-handed batters on minor league deals in recent days. But the search for a quality lefty bat to place somewhere in the lineup may well still be ongoing. But is a potent lefty bat already on the roster looking for more playing time? And is Kyle Stowers that bat? Yes, to the first question and I think yes to the second

We don’t really know yet what effect Major League Baseball’s ban on the infield shift will have on hitters next season, but teams are taking the change into consideration as they make roster decisions this winter. That includes the Nationals, whose first offensive addition of the offseason could be among those who benefit from the lack of a shift.

A new week begins with the Orioles trying to land another veteran starting pitcher while choices are narrowed by a market that’s paying inflated salaries. Left-handed bats for the corner outfield and first base also remain winter priorities, part of the vision to rotate players in the designated hitter spot. A backup catcher on a major league deal

In this space in the last week we took a look at what the winter might look like for an Orioles area scout. There are few, if any, games to scout this time of year and individual players are mostly focusing on their individual workouts. So this is a time of year, Orioles director of draft operations Brad Ciolek told me, that his scouts do a lot of

The signing of Trevor Williams – which became official Saturday night – wasn’t anything that was going to send shock waves through Nationals Park or the baseball world. A two-year, $13 million deal for a 30-year-old right-hander with a career 4.27 ERA is hardly the kind of move that shapes a team’s fortunes to any great extent. What the Williams si

Coby Mayo celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday, which was a nice reminder that another Orioles prospect played at the Double-A level this summer before his legal drinking age. Also a necessary reminder when evaluating Mayo’s season. Back spasms forced Mayo onto the injured list and cost him about a month after he appeared in only three games with

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a two-year contract with right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Williams, 30, went 3-5 with a 3.21 ERA in 30 games (nine starts) for the New York Mets in 2022. He struck out 84 hitters in 89.2 innin

While we await further news about any additions the Orioles might make for their starting rotation, we can also take a minute to let this news sink in: It is news we’ve known for a while, but baseball’s top pitching prospect in right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is set to make his major league debut in 2023. He very likely could break north w

The Rule 5 draft is a resource hardly utilized by the Nationals in the past. In fact, with the No. 1 overall pick Wednesday, they made their first selection in 12 years. But for a rebuilding team with such a high selection at such a low cost, it made too much sense for the Nats not to take a flier on a Rule 5 player and give him a shot at staying o

Andrew Politi didn’t want to think about the Rule 5 draft. Being in San Diego, near the Winter Meetings, was merely a coincidence. A way to escape the cold back East. He decided to go on a hike with his girlfriend, Molly, for the exercise and the distraction. Fresh air and clear mind. “Nothing crazy,” he said yesterday. “Just didn’t really want to