masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgHere are a few items to carry you through the morning between trips to the grocery store, where I was greeted yesterday by an Orioles fan who asked whether Chris Davis was going to cook dinner.
The Orioles continue to search for another outfielder and a starting pitcher. There’s more work to do following the agreement with Davis.
“We’re still looking around and seeing how we can improve our team,” said executive vice president Dan Duquette.
Asked whether he still believes he can find a…

Here are a few items to carry you through the morning between trips to the grocery store, where I was greeted yesterday by an Orioles fan who asked whether Chris Davis was going to cook dinner.

The Orioles continue to search for another outfielder and a starting pitcher. There’s more work to do following the agreement with Davis.

“We’re still looking around and seeing how we can improve our team,” said executive vice president Dan Duquette.

Asked whether he still believes he can find a starter, Duquette replied, “We’ll see. We’re still trying to add to our pitching staff, as well.”

duquette-showalter-chat-sidebar.jpgDuquette said the Orioles are looking “at a couple different options,” whether it’s via free agency or trade.

Davis joins catcher Matt Wieters and reliever Darren O’Day as free agents who are staying with the Orioles. Three of the big four re-signed, with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen the exception.

“The players we signed, they’re good players,” Duquette said. “Our fans know them and we like them. The players were rewarded for good performances.”

Davis more than the others, of course.

Davis will begin taking his physical today and his deal could become official by Thursday, depending when the results come back. The Orioles don’t want to hold a press conference any later than Friday afternoon before snow starts to blanket the area.

Davis’ wife, Jill, and 20-month-old daughter Ella will attend the presser after flying into Baltimore last night.

During his phone interview yesterday on MASN, Showalter was asked what the Davis signing means to Mark Trumbo.

“Nothing really, because I’m planning on everybody being in the flow,” he replied. “Chris will take some days DHing and Mark can play first base. Chris might take a few days in the outfield if so needed, if we get somebody hot, and Mark can play first and have somebody else take advantage of their skills at designated hitter. That’s the thing about Chris’ ability to play a lot of places. Obviously, he’s going to play a lot of first base and that’s where his focus is.

“Mark is going to get a quality chance to be our everyday DH, but move around a little bit. I want to keep him connected to the defense. He’s a guy who cares about it. I think we’ll see that in the spring. I’ve had some good conversations with Mark.”

Showalter and Duquette have discussed the merits of further strengthening the bullpen as a way to combat the rising cost of starting pitching.

“Let’s face it, guys: Five-year contracts for starting pitchers have proven to be a pretty consistent graveyard,” Showalter said. “It just doesn’t work. You’re lucky to get three. And that’s what some of these clubs do. They pay five or six to get three, and that’s why the premium is on the June draft and the five or six picks that we’re going to get in the first round. And we’ve got to hit on some of those Friday night pitchers like Kevin Gausman.

“You try to shorten the game as much as possible, but to sit here and think you’re going to pitch four innings out of your bullpen every night … One of the keys is to have optionable pieces in your bullpen where you can move guys in and out and keep pieces that need to be pitching one inning pitching one inning and not get overworked. The other guys who have to pitch multiple innings are guys that are movable pieces, so you can keep everybody healthy. And that’s something we’ve been very proud of, the health of our bullpen.”

Two arbitration-eligible players, Zach Britton and Brian Matusz, remain unsigned for 2016 and hearing dates will be set beginning next month. Britton filed at $7.9 million and the Orioles countered at $5.6 million. Matusz filed at $4.4 million and the Orioles countered at $3.5 million.

There haven’t been any further negotiations since the sides exchanged figures.

“We haven’t had time to examine that since last Friday,” Duquette said.

“We were happy to get a number of deals done. At the deadline we made 10 agreements with players in the process. We have two lefty relievers remaining to sign. That’s probably going to take a little time.

“It looks to me like they both should settle, but you never know.”