masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are expected to announce later today Chris Tillman’s signing to a one-year deal. They don’t disclose the terms, but as I reported yesterday, he’s guaranteed $3 million and can earn another $7 million in incentives.
There was no confirmation yesterday, perhaps because the club was waiting for the results of his physical or the deal needed to be approved by Major League Baseball and the commissioner’s office was busy with pace of play and arbitration…

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are expected to announce later today Chris Tillman‘s signing to a one-year deal. They don’t disclose the terms, but as I reported yesterday, he’s guaranteed $3 million and can earn another $7 million in incentives.

There was no confirmation yesterday, perhaps because the club was waiting for the results of his physical or the deal needed to be approved by Major League Baseball and the commissioner’s office was busy with pace of play and arbitration leftovers.

Tillman-Throws-Orange-Sidebar.jpgTillman had a couple of minor league offers on the table. The Orioles stepped up with the most enticing proposal and it was a no-brainer for Tillman to accept. He wanted to come back all along and is assured of making $3 million while other veteran starters on the market can’t land a major league contract.

Vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson got involved in negotiations, as he did with Andrew Cashner. Manager Buck Showalter also reached out, from what I’ve heard, making it a team effort to retain Tillman.

The Orioles checked on Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb, determined that there wasn’t a financial match and moved on from the trio.

A left-hander would fit nicely into the rotation, with Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. the only real in-house consideration, but Jason Vargas and Jaime García are off the board. Francisco Liriano continues to linger.

Did you know that the Orioles drafted García in the 30th round in 2004 out of Sharyland (Texas) High School, but he didn’t sign?

* The Orioles will continue to check on available left-handed hitting outfielders despite signing Alex Presley yesterday to a minor league deal.

One player on their radar, Jarrod Dyson, signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the Diamondbacks. He would have provided the defense and speed that the Orioles desire in a platoon role.

* Presley admitted to feeling antsy as the free agent market remained stagnant and he didn’t have a job.

“At a certain point, maybe a little bit,” he said. “I think a lot of us were prepared to sit and get into the best spot and not pick a spot just to feel good about having somewhere to go. Felt like this was a good fit, so just went for it.”

Presley didn’t attend the free agent camp in Bradenton.

* MLB won’t implement a pitch clock in 2018 and will choose other methods to increase pace of play, which is a relief to Darren O’Day.

Among hurlers who exceeded 30 innings last year, O’Day ranked as the 10th-slowest by averaging 29.5 seconds between pitches, according to FanGraphs.

“The players, we want faster games, too,” he said. “Maybe it will be a little reminder to eliminate some of the dead time. I’m encouraged that there’s not going to be a pitch clock or anything of that sort. It’s good to hear, good to know what the rules are going to be for the season.”

MLB announced that teams will be limited to six mound visits per nine innings not related to pitching changes. Teams will receive one additional visit per inning beyond regulation.

Time between innings will be reduced to 2:05 during locally televised games and 2:25 for nationally televised games.

* Chris Davis is going to carry the plate approach he’s been working on over the winter into Grapefruit League games. Showalter said Davis can do it despite the challenge of duplicating major league situations in the spring.

“I think just the approach and trying to stay consistent,” he said. “The challenge is going to be when you don’t get a return for it for a couple of days. ‘Let’s try something else.’ You’ve got to stay with it.

“I tell guys all the time, I challenge them to immediately write down what they’re feeling when things are going real well. Don’t say, ‘Where are my hands, what kind of bat am I using, how’s my stance?’ That’s fine, that’s pretty easy, but it’s the other stuff. What are you feeling as you’re getting in the car and riding to the park, as you’re on the on-deck circle? What are you feeling when things are going real well?

“Those are things that you reach back for and try to recreate that atmosphere and the culture, so to speak. But he knows.”