masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgI’ll go more in-depth later, but I wanted to take a few seconds to review some highlights from manager Dave Trembley’s session with the media.

Dave Trembley talks with Roch Kubatko from the MLB Winter Meetings

– Trembley’s priorities for the team remain, in no particular order, a starting pitcher, closer, first baseman and third baseman.

– He still believes the Orioles can obtain a big bat for the middle of the lineup (and he prefers a right-handed one), despite the weak free-agent…I’ll go more in-depth later, but I wanted to take a few seconds to review some highlights from manager Dave Trembley’s session with the media.

Dave Trembley talks with Roch Kubatko from the MLB Winter Meetings

– Trembley’s priorities for the team remain, in no particular order, a starting pitcher, closer, first baseman and third baseman.

– He still believes the Orioles can obtain a big bat for the middle of the lineup (and he prefers a right-handed one), despite the weak free-agent market.

– He won’t commmit to returning Jim Johnson to an eighth-inning role until the Orioles obtain another closer.

– Asked if Koji Uehara is in the closer mix, Trembley paused before saying he couldn’t give an answer without knowing if the right-hander is healthy. That judgment will be made in spring training. I didn’t take it as a ringing endorsement.

– Trembley said he isn’t “totally against” trying Nolan Reimold at first base, but he also isn’t sure how practical it would be to make that transformation in spring training. A healthy Reimold might have been able to work out at first base in the instructional league, but he’s recovering from Achilles surgery.

– President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has told Trembley that there might not be as much activity here as in past meetings. There could be a later developing period of transactions.

– Trembley ranks Luke Scott’s “priorities” as left field, designated hitter and first base – in that order. I don’t think we should include Scott in any discussions about Opening Day first basemen.

– Erik Bedard‘s name is on the Orioles’ board, but they need to know his availability. He won’t do them any good if he can’t pitch until June.