masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWith the Orioles deciding to tender contracts to all 11 of their arbitration-eligible players, we can now look forward to the Winter Meetings that start Monday in San Diego. Another key date has been crossed off the baseball calendar.
I’m still searching for my vacation on it.
I’ll make the usual prediction that the Orioles avoid going to arbitration hearings in February. The sides will exchange figures next month and meet somewhere in the middle.
Not that the Orioles are afraid to sit down…

With the Orioles deciding to tender contracts to all 11 of their arbitration-eligible players, we can now look forward to the Winter Meetings that start Monday in San Diego. Another key date has been crossed off the baseball calendar.

I’m still searching for my vacation on it.

I’ll make the usual prediction that the Orioles avoid going to arbitration hearings in February. The sides will exchange figures next month and meet somewhere in the middle.

Not that the Orioles are afraid to sit down with an arbitrator. They’re 7-0 in hearings when led by general counsel H. Russell Smouse and 9-1 under the ownership of Peter Angelos. Ben McDonald was victorious back in 1995.

The Angels non-tendered infielder Gordon Beckham last night. The Orioles showed some interest in him back in August before the White Sox traded him for a PTBNL or cash.

nick-markakis-close.pngWhether the Orioles re-sign Nick Markakis really does come down to the strength of his ties to Monkton. He has no desire to leave and his family most certainly wants to stay. Joke all you want, but that’s a powerful force.

The Braves are an obvious contender and it’s surprising that it took this long for them to emerge. Meanwhile, I’d pretty much ignore any Blue Jays rumors because that’s not a good fit for Markakis. I don’t see a scenario where playing in Toronto suddenly becomes appealing to him.

I understand that money talks. As manager Buck Showalter says, when someone insists that it’s not about the money … it’s about the money. But Markakis is an exception based on his tenure with the Orioles and current residence.

Nelson Cruz played here for one season. He was determined to get at least four years on his next contract after leading the majors in home runs. If the Orioles wouldn’t go that far, he’d go far away.

Andrew Miller is going to the highest bidder. Doesn’t matter where he pitches or how he’s used. Everyone knows it’s really about the money with Miller, whose value may never be higher after a dominant 2014 season.

Why should Miller pass up a chance to strike it filthy rich? He loved his time in Baltimore, but he isn’t married to it.

The Orioles are interviewing another candidate for hitting coach this week and it’s possible that he could be summoned to the Winter Meetings for a second round that would include other team officials.

The initial goal was to have a new coach in place before Monday, but now it’s possible that a hire won’t be announced until after the meetings. The Orioles aren’t in a rush. There’s no deadline.

The list of names that were considered at one point includes former Orioles first baseman Will Clark.

Speaking of former Orioles, Monday was the 16-year anniversary of Albert Belle signing his five-year, $65 million contract. He played two seasons before retiring with a degenerative hip condition.

I’m reminded how Belle drew so much attention his first season for refusing to take batting practice with the rest of the team or work with Terry Crowley, who was in his first season as hitting coach. He’d hit indoors, with his twin brother, Terry, flipping balls to him.

Terry Belle died in a car accident in September 2011 in Paradise Valley, Ariz. I had no idea until a few months ago.

I’ll pass along a question presented Monday on “MLB Now” on the MLB Network. Which American League East third baseman would be your choice if you were building a team – Manny Machado, Evan Longoria, Pablo Sandoval, Josh Donaldson or Alex Rodriguez?

(I’m sticking the Yankees with A-Rod because, well, it’s fun.)

Also, which catcher would you take if the choices were Matt Wieters, Brian McCann and Russell Martin?

Orioles reliever Ryan Webb is marrying Lauren Stafford this weekend. Here’s wishing them all the best.