masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDALLAS – Unless something drastic happens, the Orioles won’t complete any deals tonight. However, executive vice president Dan Duquette says he’s made “good progress” in trade talks today and hopes to finalize one or two after Thursday’s Rule 5 draft.

Duquette is staying in Dallas until late in the day, which makes me glad that I booked my flight back to Baltimore at 6:20 p.m.

Any trades would involve pitching, which has been Duquette’s main priority since he arrived at the Hilton…DALLAS – Unless something drastic happens, the Orioles won’t complete any deals tonight. However, executive vice president Dan Duquette says he’s made “good progress” in trade talks today and hopes to finalize one or two after Thursday’s Rule 5 draft.

Duquette is staying in Dallas until late in the day, which makes me glad that I booked my flight back to Baltimore at 6:20 p.m.

Any trades would involve pitching, which has been Duquette’s main priority since he arrived at the Hilton Anatole.

“We’ve had a couple of trade discussions and we’re trying to put together some pieces, and hopefully we can get something done before we leave here,” Duquette said. “We’ve been working with a couple of teams trying to get some pitching and we made some good progress, so hopefully we get something done so we can make an addition or two tomorrow. It won’t be tonight, but it could be tomorrow.”

Duquette said he didn’t get much feedback today on offers made to free agents. He met with a few more agents today.

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.

The Orioles are expected to make a selection with their fourth pick in the Rule 5 draft.

Asked if they’re likely to take a pitcher, Duquette said, “We always weight on pitching.”

He made sure that reporters knew he meant w-e-i-g-h-t.

More to come.