masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBack at the 2012 Winter Meetings in Nashville, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette sat down with agent Dan Lozano to gauge whether his club might be a match for free agent outfielder Nick Swisher. The Orioles were among four teams to meet with Lozano that day.
Duquette viewed Swisher as a possible replacement for free agent left fielder Nate McLouth, as well as a player who could shift to first base or serve as the designated hitter – all areas of need.
On that same day, Duquette…

Back at the 2012 Winter Meetings in Nashville, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette sat down with agent Dan Lozano to gauge whether his club might be a match for free agent outfielder Nick Swisher. The Orioles were among four teams to meet with Lozano that day.

Duquette viewed Swisher as a possible replacement for free agent left fielder Nate McLouth, as well as a player who could shift to first base or serve as the designated hitter – all areas of need.

On that same day, Duquette spoke with the agent for McLouth, their first face-to-face meeting in Nashville.

You know the rest of the story. The Orioles reached agreement with McLouth on a one-year, $2 million contract during the Winter Meetings, eliminating their interest in Swisher, who waited until Dec. 23 before agreeing to a four-year, $56 million contract with the Indians that also included a $14 million vesting option for 2017.

Swisher has batted .231/.316/.386 with 30 home runs and 105 RBIs in his first two seasons with the Indians. He hit .208/.278/.331 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 97 games this year. He turns 34 on Tuesday.

Swisher underwent surgery on both knees in August, bringing more uncertainty to his 2015 season. The Indians reportedly would be willing to trade him and perhaps take on another big contract, which leads to the obvious speculation about Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

Stop right there.

jimenez-walk-off-mound-close-gray-sidebar.jpgThe Orioles aren’t interested in Swisher and have no desire to trade Jimenez for him. If you hear that rumor, cover your ears. Running away is optional.

Fans reacted harshly to the Orioles’ 2012 flirtation with Swisher. Maybe it was a Yankee thing. Maybe it was a personality thing. Maybe it was a little from Column A and a little from Column B.

Either way, Duquette quickly learned that signing Swisher wouldn’t have been a popular move.

Duquette confirmed yesterday that there’s a “moderate level of interest” in Jimenez. He also said there’s more substantial interest than just teams looking to dump a big contract.

Six starters for five rotation spots. The math still hasn’t changed.

“Ubaldo isn’t that far away from being a quality starter,” Duquette said. “They don’t hit him. It’s really about throwing strikes.”

The Orioles hope a mechanical adjustment made in September, when Jimenez lowered his hands to present a more compact delivery, will produce better results once pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 18.

That is, if Jimenez is still an Oriole.

Six starters for five rotation spots.