masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles reliever Tommy Hunter is entering his final winter of arbitration eligibility before he can test free agency.
He’s not losing sleep over it. Or his sense of humor.
“I had a good second half for that,” said Hunter, who posted a 1.77 ERA in his last 43 appearances.
“It’s a roller coaster, baseball is, and you try to ride those upward climbs as long as you can. Hopefully, it continues in Japan and continues next spring training, and hopefully I start off the way I ended this year and…

Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter is entering his final winter of arbitration eligibility before he can test free agency.

He’s not losing sleep over it. Or his sense of humor.

“I had a good second half for that,” said Hunter, who posted a 1.77 ERA in his last 43 appearances.

“It’s a roller coaster, baseball is, and you try to ride those upward climbs as long as you can. Hopefully, it continues in Japan and continues next spring training, and hopefully I start off the way I ended this year and I don’t have to worry about a (crappy) start.”

Hunter made $3 million this season and is projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn $4.4 million in 2015. He won’t pester his agent, Michael Moye, for constant updates as the sides prepare to exchange salary figures.

“I stay about as far away from that stuff as I can get,” he said. “You get a group of guys and let them work. That’s why we have agents, that’s why we have financial advisers. We have a pretty good group on my team, my little individual team, and I let them work and do their job.

“It’s pretty easy for me to go out and play baseball knowing I’m taken care of. I don’t pay much attention to it. I’ll look every once in a while and get a call from them and they tell me where they’re at and what they’re doing and what they’re thinking, but as far as me paying much mind to it, I like Coors Light and I like hunting and that’s about it.”

Hunter paused before adding, “And Subway.”

Can’t forget that future endorsement deal.

In case you missed the list of Tampa Bay managerial candidates, as announced by the team, here it is:

Manny Acta, ESPN analyst and former Nationals and Indians manager
Kevin Cash, Indians bullpen coach
Craig Counsell, Brewers special assistant
Raul Ibanez, played most recently with Royals
Dave Martinez, Rays bench coach
Charlie Montoyo, Rays Triple-A manager
Ron Wotus, Giants bench coach
Don Wakamatsu, Royals bench coach and former Mariners manager

Ibanez would be quite a reach, going from player to manager without any coaching or managerial experience.

My guess is that Martinez replaces Joe Maddon, who opted out of his contract and took the Cubs job.

Showalter Russell Wide.jpgBeing a bench coach gets you a step closer to managing, as you can tell by the list, but the Orioles’ John Russell never heard from the Twins or Rays.

The Orioles fully expected Russell to get a call from his friend, Twins general manager Terry Ryan, but it didn’t happen. Manager Buck Showalter’s staff will remain intact, since all of his coaches are under contract for 2015.

Showalter is puzzled by the lack of interest in Russell as a manager. Showalter keeps endorsing him and it comes from the heart.

Is it the 186-299 record in three seasons as Pirates manager? The quiet, understated personality?

Russell isn’t a self-promoter and he doesn’t give the impression that he’s job hunting. He loves his role with the Orioles, which includes working with the catchers. He’s highly respected and valued in the organization. It’s just too bad that he can’t even get an interview when another managerial job opens up.

Shameless plug alert: I’m back on “Wall to Wall Baseball” today from noon-2 p.m. on MASN.