masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles executive vice president Dan Duquette repeated tonight that the Orioles are continuing their attempts to re-sign first baseman Chris Davis despite yesterday’s acquisition of Mark Trumbo from the Mariners.
“Everybody knows we’re trying to sign Chris Davis,” Duquette said during the “Hot Stove Show” on 105.7 The Fan. “We like Chris Davis. He’s done some great work for us, and of course, our fans like him. But where these markets take us, I’m not real sure. I just know that the…

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette repeated tonight that the Orioles are continuing their attempts to re-sign first baseman Chris Davis despite yesterday’s acquisition of Mark Trumbo from the Mariners.

Davis-Rounds-Third-HR-NY-Sidebar.jpg“Everybody knows we’re trying to sign Chris Davis,” Duquette said during the “Hot Stove Show” on 105.7 The Fan. “We like Chris Davis. He’s done some great work for us, and of course, our fans like him. But where these markets take us, I’m not real sure. I just know that the price of poker is getting expensive – particularly some of these pitchers they’ve signed.

“Some of these contracts are just staggering. The contract (David Price) signed in Boston, it’s just a staggering amount.

“We’re going to have a good team. We’re going to put a good team out there. And we started our offseason by picking up Trumbo yesterday. I think he’s going to be a good power hitter for us.”

The Orioles can’t wait too long to find out whether Davis will continue to be a power hitter for them. From what I’ve gleaned – that word again – nothing has changed in negotiations. Davis isn’t ready to make a decision and the Orioles will conduct business while remaining hopeful.

The Orioles also want to re-sign set-up man Darren O’Day, but the general feeling in the industry is that the Nationals are the favorites. The price for O’Day may have gone up as we approach the Winter Meetings next week in Nashville. That’s the word on the street.

“At some point we have to move forward. Either you can get a deal or you can’t get a deal,” Duquette said when asked specifically about Davis and O’Day “I’m not sure we’re there yet, but the day of reckoning is going to come soon for the team and it’s going to come for these players, too. They have to decide where they’re going to work for the next couple of years of their career.

“We’ve had discussions with Darren O’Day,” Duquette added. “Who knows where that will go? He’s been one of the leaders down there in the bullpen. We’ll see where that goes. But I’m confident we’ll have a strong bullpen.”

Duquette is studying the list of non-tenders and has targeted a few names.

“There are more non-tenders this year than I think I’ve ever seen,” Duquette said. “There are a couple players I wasn’t expecting to be non-tendered. There are a couple of pitchers on the list that are interesting that are well-established major leaguers.”

Duquette also said he’s still looking to add an outfielder/first baseman, a starter and a reliever over the winter.