masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe general manager meetings begin today in Chicago, which will bring more rumors and speculation than actual activity.

Some deals are struck, but it’s mostly a way for executives to lay the groundwork for next month’s winter meetings in Indianapolis. They’ll express interest in players, discuss parameters of a deal and agree to continue those talks. It gives them a better sense of who’s available and whether there’s a potential match.

Otherwise, there’s a lot of business discussed…The general manager meetings begin today in Chicago, which will bring more rumors and speculation than actual activity.

Some deals are struck, but it’s mostly a way for executives to lay the groundwork for next month’s winter meetings in Indianapolis. They’ll express interest in players, discuss parameters of a deal and agree to continue those talks. It gives them a better sense of who’s available and whether there’s a potential match.

Otherwise, there’s a lot of business discussed that would bore the average person.

If you check FOXSports.com, you’ll see daily reports from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, including a nugget about Melvin Mora working out at different positions in Venezuela in case a team wants to sign him as a utility player.

Before dressing for his final game with the Orioles, Mora told reporters that he still envisioned himself as an everyday third baseman and preferred to remain one. He’s obviously preparing for clubs to request a minute for rebuttal.

By the way, we had a lot of discussion yesterday about Mora’s free-agent status. Someone must have erroneously posted him as a Type-A, getting it confused with my personality.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster is back up to 34 after the Armando Gabino waiver claim. That’s not enough room to protect all those young players who otherwise will be exposed to the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 10, so look for more activity before the roster has to be set. Perhaps they’ll try to sneak Gabino through waivers, which the Twins failed to accomplish.

Here’s the list of pitchers who remain on the 40-man:

-Matt Albers
-Brian Bass
-Brad Bergesen
-Jason Berken
-Alberto Castillo
-Armando Gabino
-Jeremy Guthrie
-David Hernandez
-Jim Johnson
-Radhames Liz
-Brian Matusz
-Cla Meredith
-Kam Mickolio
-Troy Patton
-Wilfrido Perez
-Chris Ray
-Dennis Sarfate
-Chorye Spoone
-Chris Tillman
-Koji Uehara
-Chris Waters

The AL Gold Glove winners will be announced today.

I’m not sure what time MLB will release that information. Maybe I should ask Adam Jones’ brother.