masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWe’re being bombarded with awards shows for the next two weeks. I’m waiting for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host one of them.
Can’t wait to find out who wins “Best On-Screen Kiss.”
Tonight is the Players Choice Awards from 8-9:30 p.m. on MLB Network. Watch me feign interest.
The Orioles have two nominees in the American League. Zach Britton, Corey Kluber and Rick Porcello are finalists for Outstanding Pitcher, and Mark Trumbo, Yu Darvish and Ian Desmond are finalists for Comeback…

We’re being bombarded with awards shows for the next two weeks. I’m waiting for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host one of them.

Can’t wait to find out who wins “Best On-Screen Kiss.”

Tonight is the Players Choice Awards from 8-9:30 p.m. on MLB Network. Watch me feign interest.

The Orioles have two nominees in the American League. Zach Britton, Corey Kluber and Rick Porcello are finalists for Outstanding Pitcher, and Mark Trumbo, Yu Darvish and Ian Desmond are finalists for Comeback Player.

Britton’s peers differ from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in their views on which pitchers should be eligible. To be fair, it’s a large segment of the BBWAA and media. It’s not unanimous.

Here’s the entire list of candidates:

American League
zach-britton-white-point.jpgOutstanding Player: Jose Altuve (Astros); Mookie Betts (Red Sox); Mike Trout (Angels)
Outstanding Pitcher: Zach Britton (Orioles); Corey Kluber (Indians); Rick Porcello (Red Sox)
Outstanding Rookie: Michael Fulmer (Tigers); Tyler Naquin (Indians); Gary Sanchez (Yankees)
Comeback Player: Mark Trumbo (Orioles); Yu Darvish (Rangers); Ian Desmond (Rangers).

National League
Outstanding Player: Nolan Arenado (Rockies); Kris Bryant (Cubs); Daniel Murphy (Nationals)
Outstanding Pitcher: Kyle Hendricks (Cubs); Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers); Max Scherzer (Nationals)
Outstanding Rookie: Aledmys Diaz (Cardinals); Corey Seager (Dodgers); Trea Turner (Nationals)
Comeback Player: Jose Fernandez (Marlins); Rich Hill (Dodgers); Jean Segura (Diamondbacks)

Either League
Player of Year: Jose Altuve (Astros); Mookie Betts (Red Sox); David Ortiz (Red Sox)
Man of the Year: Curtis Granderson (Mets); Anthony Rizzo (Cubs); Justin Turner (Dodgers)

* It didn’t take long for the first free agent to be attached to the Orioles in the offseason rumor mill.

FOXSports.com reported yesterday that the Orioles are interested in Desmond for a corner outfield spot.

MLBTradeRumors.com projected that Desmond will sign a four-year, $60 million deal with the Phillies. That’s strike one against the Orioles, who may not be willing to commit that much money to their payroll. I spoke with one person who doubted that they could afford him.

Desmond was given a qualifying offer, which would force the Orioles to forfeit a draft pick for him. They haven’t been shy about doing it in the past.

I’m sure the Orioles have “interest” in Desmond because he makes so much sense for them. He made a smooth transition to the outfield with the Rangers this season, offering the type of versatility that the Orioles covet, including the ability to back up Adam Jones in center field. He’d be a defensive upgrade over Trumbo if inserted in right field.

Desmond registered a .335 on-base percentage to tie his career high, and he’s stolen 20 or more bases in five seasons. He’s hit 19 or more home runs in five seasons, and the Orioles want power throughout their lineup. He’s batted in every spot in the order, making him a potential leadoff hitter. He registered a .338/.373/.507 slash line against left-handers this season.

It makes sense on so many levels, but again, the cost may be deemed excessive. I don’t get the sense that the Orioles are going to significantly increase their payroll, focusing more on raises for their arbitration-eligible players and perhaps revisiting extension talks. They’d like to re-sign Trumbo if he doesn’t take the qualifying offer, which most definitely would eliminate Desmond, unless he fell into their laps.

I’ve reported multiple times that Trumbo is a priority for the Orioles. But as always, it depends on whether the price is right.

Desmond settled for a late one-year, $8 million deal with the Rangers last winter after turning down the Nationals’ offer of a $107 million extension and their qualifying offer. Maybe he accepts the $17.2 million, though his bounceback season and change in agents suggest that he’s going to test the waters again.

Desmond left Sports One Athlete Management and joined Brodie Van Wagenen of CAA sports.

* Sifting through executive vice president Dan Duquette’s comments to reporters at the GM meetings in Arizona, it’s clear that nothing has changed since the season-ending news conference at Camden Yards. There’s just a new audience.

The outfield is a priority, and a much larger one than the rotation. And Matt Wieters’ likely departure moves the Orioles into the catching market.

It’s not inconceivable that the Orioles re-sign Wieters, but he’s expected to get a better deal elsewhere. The Orioles weren’t going to risk him accepting the qualifying offer for $17.2 million with the same offer on the table for Trumbo and $23 million committed to Chris Davis next season.

* Sporting News sent out its press release on its Executive of the Year votes yesterday at 12:30 a.m. At least, that’s when I received it. Probably would get more play at an earlier time, but what do I know?

Anyway, Duquette received two votes. The Cubs’ Theo Epstein placed first with 13 votes, followed by the Indians’ Chris Antonetti with nine, the Yankees’ Brian Cashman with eight, the Rangers’ Jon Daniels with seven and the Indians’ Mike Chernoff and the Nationals’ Mike Rizzo with three.

* The Orioles remain hopeful of hiring a pitching coach later this week, though they’re not inclined to rush the process.

Double-A Bowie pitching coach Alan Mills remains a candidate, but he could be named bullpen coach. Former Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell is still in the running.

Finding a new assistant hitting coach will take longer because the Orioles are focused on filling the other two openings on their staff. They haven’t decided whether to interview Milt Thompson, a finalist last year before they chose Mark Quinn. The other finalists were Cory Snyder, Troy Gingrich and Dwayne Hosey.

Snyder doesn’t currently appear to be in the running, but again, it’s early

Hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh met Quinn and Thompson during FanFest. He may have more input on the next hire.

* Kevin Gausman chimed in yesterday regarding Britton’s exclusion from the Cy Young finalists. He tweeted the following:

Darren O’Day said the following yesterday on MLB Network Radio:

“It’s a challenge for a reliever to put up as much value as a starter, but Zach deserved to be top three.”

O’Day also said he was “absolutely” surprised that Britton didn’t pitch in the wild card game in Toronto.

“To keep a guy like that in the stable is tough,” O’Day said.