masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNot that anyone asked for my opinion, but any trade proposal involving Orioles catcher Matt Wieters must bring back a frontline starting pitcher. It just does. Says so right here.

An established left fielder would be nice. Someone who can get on base. Someone who can steal a base. Someone who can clear the bases on occasion, though the Orioles didn’t lack for power this year.

That hole at second base needs to be filled.

A left-handed designated hitter is on executive vice president Dan…Not that anyone asked for my opinion, but any trade proposal involving Orioles catcher Matt Wieters must bring back a frontline starting pitcher. It just does. Says so right here.

An established left fielder would be nice. Someone who can get on base. Someone who can steal a base. Someone who can clear the bases on occasion, though the Orioles didn’t lack for power this year.

That hole at second base needs to be filled.

A left-handed designated hitter is on executive vice president Dan Duquette’s shopping list.

However, the Orioles’ top priority should remain a top-of-the-rotation starter to pair with Chris Tillman. Then, let the rest of the candidates fight it out in spring training.

Pitching wins championships. Pretty sure I read that somewhere.

The Orioles can hit the ball a long way and they can field it. They need to throw it consistently for strikes and get deep into games before calling upon a bullpen that wasn’t as good in 2013.

About that bullpen, which posted a 3.52 ERA this year, compared to 3.00 in 2012 …

Until we’re told otherwise, Jim Johnson returns as the closer in his final season before reaching free agency. If he hits the open market, he most definitely could be wearing a different uniform in 2015.

Maybe another team would give him the chance to be a starter. Or just be more willing to sink a lot of money into a closer.

Darren O’Day will be back in a setup role and presumably healthy after experiencing numbness and tingling in the fingers of his right hand in September. Left-handers batted .205 against him in 2012 and .309 in 2013. The Orioles need the 2012 version.

O’Day will make $3.2 million next season, and the Orioles hold a $4.25 million option for 2015. Not that he needs the extra incentive to pitch well, but it’s there anyway.

Tommy Hunter also figures to work in a set-up role again, though he wants to compete for a starting job in spring training. He posted a 2.81 ERA in 68 games this season. He’s a terrific late-inning power arm and a nice change of pace from O’Day and lefty specialist Brian Matusz.

Right-handers batted .141 against Hunter, but left-handers hit .294. That’s one area that needs improvement.

Matusz also prefers to start, and as I’ve written, the Orioles could go in a few directions with him. It’s not inconceivable that they package him in a trade, since his salary could approach $3 million. Or they could just keep him in his current role and let him dominate David Ortiz.

Left-handers batted .168 against Matusz this season, compared to .302 by right-handers. In Matusz’s career, lefties bat .208 and right-handers bat .305.

New pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti will try to figure out why there’s such a discrepancy. Matusz will welcome those fresh eyes – assuming he’s still with the team, of course.

Southpaw Troy Patton had reverse splits, with left-handers batting .289 and right-handers .254. His overall ERA was 2.43 in 54 games in 2012 and 3.70 in 56 games this season.

Patton also is a trade candidate who otherwise could benefit from those fresh eyes.

I’ll suggest again that Josh Stinson, who’s out of options, could break camp as a long reliever and swingman. He allowed one earned run and three hits in nine September innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts. Overall, left-handers were 2-for-22 against him, and right-handers batted .216.

That’s six relievers, by my math, leaving room for one more.

The Orioles could slide a failed starter into that spot. They could choose between Edgmer Escalona and left-handers Kelvin De La Cruz and Chris Jones. They could sign someone else. It’s anybody’s guess in November.

Shameless plug alert: I’m appearing on “Wall to Wall Baseball” from 11 a.m.-noon on MASN. I’m expecting a resolution to last weekend’s heated debate over whether teams insure every contract.