masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe new year began with another report that the Orioles are interested in re-signing designated hitter Pedro Alvarez.
It still holds true. They’ve been open to the idea since he hit the free agent market. However, as I’ve written, he could be the type of late signing that brought him to Baltimore last spring and has become executive vice president Dan Duquette’s signature move.
Signing Alvarez would be a clear signal that the Orioles have moved away from Mark Trumbo unless they’ve suddenly…

The new year began with another report that the Orioles are interested in re-signing designated hitter Pedro Alvarez.

It still holds true. They’ve been open to the idea since he hit the free agent market. However, as I’ve written, he could be the type of late signing that brought him to Baltimore last spring and has become executive vice president Dan Duquette’s signature move.

Signing Alvarez would be a clear signal that the Orioles have moved away from Mark Trumbo unless they’ve suddenly decided that last year’s home run leader could return to right field. They’re not going to platoon Trumbo and Alvarez in the DH role and they’re insisting that they want to upgrade their outfield defense.

The Orioles have made it a priority to find a left-handed hitter. They could re-sign Alvarez to platoon with Trey Mancini at DH and still sign a left-handed bat for right field.

In other words, nothing has changed since we made it through the holidays. Same shopping list, same potential to retain Alvarez.

* The list of available outfielders in free agency also includes Alejandro De Aza, who appeared in 20 games with the Orioles in 2014 and 30 in 2015 before moving on to three other teams.

De Aza isn’t on the Orioles’ radar as they continue their search for a right fielder – preferably one who bats from the left side and can lead off. De Aza is drawing interest, but not from the club that traded him to the Red Sox for pitcher Joe Gunkel, who was placed on the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft.

Gunkel will be one of the more interesting pitchers to follow in spring training. The Orioles have no idea whether his stuff can play in the majors. There are mixed opinions in the organization and it’s time to find out.

Gunkel, who turned 25 on Dec. 30, posted a 2.59 ERA and 0.958 WHIP in 17 starts at Double-A Bowie in 2015. He was a combined 8-14 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.261 WHIP last season at Bowie (four starts) and Triple-A Norfolk (24 starts).

In four minor league seasons, Gunkel averages 0.7 home runs, 1.6 walks and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s sporting a 3.30 ERA and 1.115 WHIP over 430 1/3 innings.

Solid command and a repeatable delivery certainly work in Gunkel’s favor. But again, no one knows if he can take the next step and at least compete for a long relief role.

On the day that the Orioles protected the former 18th round pick, executive vice president Dan Duquette said: “Joe Gunkel is able to use a three-pitch mix effectively to keep hitters off-balance and has excellent command of his pitches.”

* Infielder Paul Janish remains a free agent after refusing the Orioles’ outright assignment to Norfolk.

Janish, 34, became a free agent on Oct. 13 after passing through waivers. He decided to test the market while hoping that the Orioles would retain interest.

Manager Buck Showalter is a huge supporter of Janish, placing tremendous value on the infielder’s defense at shortstop and general approach to the game. The Orioles will continue to keep an eye on him as the offseason plays out.

Janish re-signed with the Orioles last winter, accepting a minor league deal over a similar offer from the Astros. He went 6-for-31 in 14 games and batted .248/.333/.280 with eight doubles and 18 RBIs with 76 games with Norfolk.

Janish committed only two errors in 297 chances with the Tides. It’s always a glove story with this guy.

* I still can’t figure out why the Mets would trade pitcher Logan Verrett to the Orioles for cash, practically giving him away while he has another minor league option and is under team control through 2022.

verrett-os-sidebar.jpgThey created a spot on the 40-man roster, of course, but is that the only reason?

Verrett was 3-8 with a 5.20 ERA and 1.560 WHIP in 35 games (12 starts) last season over 91 2/3 innings and he averaged 4.2 walks per nine innings. However, he registered a 2.84 ERA in 23 games out of the bullpen and could replace Vance Worley.

* I mailed in my Hall of Fame ballot a few weeks ago and took the usual amount of abuse on Twitter because, of course, we’re all supposed to agree.

Filling out a ballot used to be an enjoyable endeavor and it still remains an honor, but it’s also become stressful due to the 10-player limit and the pressure to decide whether to include “cheaters.” Or more to the point, which guys actually cheated.

I finally gave in and included Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, which brought the predictable amount of heat from fans. Of course, I also used to get ripped for excluding them. Either way, I’m told that I should lose my voting privileges.

I can’t explain the overall surge in support for Bonds and Clemens. I’m sure the reasons vary. But I just grew tired of, as my friend Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com described it, “the hypocrisy with all the guessing.” And there’s no way to know whether I’d already voted in guys who weren’t “clean” despite their sparkling reputations.

Here’s my ballot, in case you missed it:

Jeff Bagwell
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Vladimir Guerrero
Trevor Hoffman
Edgar Martinez
Mike Mussina
Tim Raines
Ivan Rodriguez
Lee Smith

I’ve got one final chance to get Smith into the Hall of Fame and it’s going to fail again. So be it.

The two omissions that I hope to correct next year are Larry Walker and Billy Wagner. The 10-player limit worked against them. And I should give more consideration to Curt Schilling. I just won’t support his Twitter account.

* I was saddened to learn last week of the passing of Rob Belanger, son of Orioles Hall of Famer Mark Belanger, after a three-year battle with prostate cancer.

Rob was chairman and co-founder of the Belanger-Federico Foundation/Cool Kids Campaign to honor his father and to help others whose lives are affected by cancer. Lung cancer took Mark Belanger’s life in 1998.

Rob never sought pity and continued to live his life to the fullest – playing in his church band, coaching his girls’ softball teams and attending Cool Kids events until a few weeks before his death.

I had the pleasure of meeting Rob and contributing to the campaign via a celebrity roast – the jokes at my expense will stay with me forever – and certainly enjoyed watching Mark play shortstop when I was a kid. Brooks and Belanger on the left side of the infield. It just didn’t get any better.

Cancer has taken father and son, and continues to rob us of family and friends. It’s got to stop.