LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The hotel lobby at the Winter Meetings is a magical place. Think of it as nirvana for baseball geeks, a confusing confluence of scouts, executives, agents, players, former players and media types, all trying to sniff out the latest shred of a rumor without being too obvious.
This morning's tour of the Dolphin Resort at Disney brought a lot of chatter about interest in two Nationals relievers - right-handers Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard. Most teams in the majors are...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The acquisition of Doug Fister and an impending spring training competition for the fifth starter's spot in the Nationals rotation has created a crunch for the young starting pitchers vying for a spot on the 25-man roster out of spring training.
While it wouldn't be surprising to see right-handers Taylor Jordan, Tanner Roark or Nate Karns forming the bulk of the rotation at Triple-A Syracuse should they not make the major league club out of spring training, there's...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Though his starting outfield is set - with Bryce Harper in left field, Denard Span in center field and Jayson Werth in right field - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo placed a high priority this offseason in adding a dependable left-handed bat off the bench.
Rizzo wanted someone versatile enough to play all three positions well, a hitter with enough pop to hit the occasional home run and a guy who could add an element of speed to the aggressive style new manager...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Greetings from the Hemisphere Ballroom, which functions as the media work room for the Winter Meetings. The lobby is starting to buzz and the work room is beginning to fill up with reporters, many of whom are finally arriving after having their flights from the great white - and icy - north delayed, postponed or canceled.
I won't throw the fact that the weather forecaster on the local FOX affiliate told me it was going to be "really, really warm for December" here...
I'm sitting at Gate B-4 at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, having decided it's better to arrive early for a 1 p.m. fight with a wintry mix in the weather forecast than to risk getting shut out of my Airport FastPark, my preferred long-term parking destination for business excursions. Better safe than sorry, right?
My friends who are trying to fly out of Reagan National or Dulles bound for Orlando (and, eventually, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., site of the annual...
The Orioles today announced that they have signed free agent outfielder Francisco Peguero to a one-year contract.
Peguero, 25, spent the majority of the 2013 season with Triple-A Fresno in the San Francisco organization, batting .316/.354/.408 in 70 games. He also appeared in 18 major league games, going 6-for-29 with his first big league home run. In eight minor league seasons in the San Francisco organization, Peguero is a career .306/.337/.427 hitter in 690 games. He has appeared in 35...
Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche will take part in the 2013 USO Holiday Tour led by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey. Joining him will be Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Bridget Kelly, former New England Patriots offensive tackle and three-time Super Bowl champion Matt Light, actor/comedian Thomas "Nephew Tommy" Miles, stars of A&E's hit reality show "Duck Dynasty" Jep and Willie Robertson and former correspondent on NBC's "The Voice"...
In an effort to spread holiday cheer throughout the D.C. region, the Washington Nationals will participate in a series of community events that make up the team's "Week of Giving" beginning next Monday, December 9 through Saturday, December 14. During the week, Nationals players and front office staff will partake in activities aimed at giving back to the local community while celebrating the spirit of the holidays.
To start off the week of events, Nationals pitcher Ross Detwiler* and...
With the holiday season underway, the Orioles will host a youth baseball tournament and help a worthy cause this Saturday, December 7. The Orioles invite Sarasota area residents to bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program to the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex in Twin Lakes Park anytime between 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., then stay to watch games played as part of the Suncoast Travel Ball's Toys for Tots Baseball Tournament. Donated toys will be...
The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed starting pitcher Doug Fister from the Tigers in exchange for infielder Steve Lombardozzi, left-handed pitcher Ian Krol and minor-league left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
In 33 games/32 starts in 2013, the 29-year-old went 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA and ranked among American League leaders in GDPs induced (tied first, 26), home runs allowed per 9.0...
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired catcher Johnny Monell from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations.
Monell, 27, batted .275/.364/.494 (114-415) with 20 homers and 64 RBI in 121 games for Triple-A Fresno in 2013. He appeared in eight games for the Giants in 2013, batting .125/.222/.125 (1-8) with one RBI.
In his seven minor league campaigns in the Giants organization, Monell batted .267/.351/.456 (569-2131) with 77 homers and 332 RBI in 641 games. He...
Another Hall of Fame ballot, another smattering of former Nationals and Expos who will likely be on the outside looking in when results of balloting of Baseball Writers' Association of America members is announced Jan. 8.
Among the 19 new candidates, there is only one ex-National: catcher Paul Lo Duca, who played 46 games in a Washington uniform in 2008 before being released. Lo Duca, a .286 hitter in 11 major league seasons, batted only .230 with 12 RBIs for the Nats.
There are still some...
The Washington Nationals today acquired outfielder John Wooten from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
A 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter, Wooten spent the 2013 season playing primarily in right field for Single-A Beloit (Midwest League). There, he hit .257 with a .333 on-base percentage and a .430 slugging percentage, clubbing 20 home runs and 22...
The Orioles today announced that they have claimed infielder Cord Phelps off waivers from the Cleveland Indians.
Phelps, 26, appeared in 53 games for Cleveland over the last three seasons, batting .159/.221/.248 (18-113) with two homers and 11 RBI. He saw action at second base, third base and shortstop for the Indians.
In 2013, the switch-hitter batted .267/.333/.443 (68-255) with nine homers and 46 RBI in 65 games for Triple-A Columbus and appeared in four games for Cleveland, where he was...
Baltimore baseball historians take note: A new discovery has unearthed a previously unknown photograph that details the exact location of Maryland Baseball Park, former home of the Baltimore Black Sox of the Negro Leagues.
Research by University of Delaware associate professor of English Bernard McKenna, a Baltimore baseball historian, uncovered the groundbreaking 1927 aerial photograph, which shows Maryland Park's location on Russell Street, several blocks south of where M&T Bank Stadium now...
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-hander Brad Brach from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league right-hander Devin Jones.
Brach, 27, posted a 3.19 ERA (31.0IP, 11ER, 31K) in 33 games for San Diego in 2013. In three major league seasons with the Padres, he has gone 3-6 with a 3.70 ERA (104.2IP, 43ER) in 109 relief appearances, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. In six minor league seasons, Brach pitched to a 2.34 ERA (277.1IP, 72ER) and recorded 118...
Camden Yards is a gem, a rare baseball cathedral that blends classic, retro style with today's version of the national pastime. But its lush outfield grass and manicured infield don't happen by accident. They're the result of a year-round effort by head groundskeeper Nicole McFadyen and her talented grounds crew. Each month during this offseason, Orioles Buzz will check in with McFadyen to see what's happening on the field at Camden Yards as the grounds crew prepares for the 2014...
The Washington Nationals today promoted Doug Harris to Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development, Kris Kline to Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Scouting Operations, Mark Scialabba to Director of Player Development, Mark Baca to National Supervisor, Jeff Zona to Special Assistant to the General Manager and Fred Costello to National Crosschecker. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
Harris...
The Washington Nationals today selected the contracts of left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis, outfielder Michael Taylor and right-handed pitcher Aaron Barrett. The club also designated left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad and left-handed pitcher Tyler Robertson for assignment. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
The Nationals' second-round selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft (University of San Diego), Solis recently led the...
If you've ever stared up at the giant video board at Nationals Park during a game, seen the in-game video host running a contest or trying to engage fans and thought, "Gee, I could do that," the Nationals may want to talk to you.
The Nats are commencing a casting call for a new in-game video host and, providing you have an effusive personality, have performed in front of large crowds, have on-air experience and possess a knowledge of both baseball and the Nationals, your dream could come...
