masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Once again tonight, Dan Duquette took time to talk with me for a video interview on MASNSports.com. With today’s news that the club has agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Nate McLouth, pending a physical, and with Nolan Reimold returning, I asked Duquette if the Orioles were now set in left field.

“I thought Nate did a great job for us late in the year,” Duquette said. “He solidified our defense, he got on base, he stole bases, he hit and he hit with some…NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Once again tonight, Dan Duquette took time to talk with me for a video interview on MASNSports.com. With today’s news that the club has agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Nate McLouth, pending a physical, and with Nolan Reimold returning, I asked Duquette if the Orioles were now set in left field.

“I thought Nate did a great job for us late in the year,” Duquette said. “He solidified our defense, he got on base, he stole bases, he hit and he hit with some power. So we’re glad to have him back pending the results of the physical. Nolan Reimold is right on the edge of being cleared for baseball activities. So we have a couple of good candidates for left field. Trayvon Robinson, of course, we’ll take a look at in spring and we have LJ Hoes and Xavier Avery. So we’ve got plenty of outfield depth right now.”

The Rule 5 draft will take place here Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The Orioles have the 23rd selection and it sounds like there is a decent chance that they make a pick when their name is called.

“We’ve been very active in the scouting for the Rule 5 draft. I think there are some good players available, but I don’t know if they are going to be there when we draft. Last year, we got a good player in Ryan Flaherty, who did a very good job for us. We’d like to get another contributor like that, but it’s tough drafting 23rd. Last year, I think we drafted fifth,” Duquette said.