masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNASHVILLE – He is a former Oriole and one of MLB Network’s top analysts. When he got off the air this morning from co-hosting his “Hot Stove” show, Harold Reynolds joined me for a video interview.
We discussed several Orioles topics.
On Chris Davis and what contract he could get: “He’s going to be one of those players that the demand is going to be there because of the power. The numbers, I’m not sure what position players are getting right now. The top-tier pitcher, yeah, you are going…

NASHVILLE – He is a former Oriole and one of MLB Network’s top analysts. When he got off the air this morning from co-hosting his “Hot Stove” show, Harold Reynolds joined me for a video interview.

We discussed several Orioles topics.

On Chris Davis and what contract he could get: “He’s going to be one of those players that the demand is going to be there because of the power. The numbers, I’m not sure what position players are getting right now. The top-tier pitcher, yeah, you are going to get $200 million.

“The top tier position player? This isn’t Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols at $250 million or even Robinson Cano at $240 million. It’s going to slot down. We’ve got to see what happens with Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, Alex Gordon. The market is starting to set and then we’ll be able to see where Chris Davis falls in.”

gausman-gray-specs-sidebar.jpgIs the current O’s rotation good enough?: “If they get a decent addition or two. (Kevin) Gausman has got to step up to another level this year. Be consistent. I could use that word with their whole rotation. It is almost like watching that team that can’t make a mistake. You don’t make a mistake, we’ll win. You make a mistake, you lose. That is how I view the Orioles’ starting rotation. They almost have to be perfect and maxed out right now. Becuause they don’t have that (Clayton) Kershaw or (Zack) Greinke or somebody to fall back on.

Reynolds is a Mark Trumbo fan: “I’ve always liked Mark Trumbo. I think he got miscast when he went to the National League. He played the outfield and he’s not an outfielder. Then, in Anaheim, when he was just starting to play well, the last full season he really played first base, he put up big numbers. Then they signed (Albert) Pujols. The journey of the last few three years has kind of thrown off what I think he is capable of doing.

“If they say in Baltimore, ‘You’re our first baseman,’ and take the pressure off him trying to learn a defensive position and let him hit, he’s a guy that is going to hit you 40 home runs.”