masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Earlier today I had a chance to interview Orioles manager Buck Showalter. While he is quite aware, of course, of his club’s involvement in trade talks, he took some time to praise his current group of players. He also said the Orioles have around a dozen staff members here at the Winter Meetings.

“We’ve got 12 or 13 guys there and there is a lot of great input,” Showalter said. “There is a good feeling right now, a good morale. You know, if people don’t value our…NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Earlier today I had a chance to interview Orioles manager Buck Showalter. While he is quite aware, of course, of his club’s involvement in trade talks, he took some time to praise his current group of players. He also said the Orioles have around a dozen staff members here at the Winter Meetings.

“We’ve got 12 or 13 guys there and there is a lot of great input,” Showalter said. “There is a good feeling right now, a good morale. You know, if people don’t value our players right now like we do, we’ll keep them. I like our guys and I don’t want them reading about me talking about someone else’s players.

“I think our three-hole hitter or No. 1 starter is right here. That’s the way I look at it. It’s our own guys. We rallied around that last year rather than thinking about some magical one move.”

Showalter said he is keeping in touch with his players during the winter and seeks their input on team matters. For instance, he said he spoke with shortstop J.J. Hardy about the club’s candidates to be the new third base and infield coach.

“I’ve talked to four or five of them here. ‘Hey, would you make this move?’ It’s their club as much as anything. I want them to feel like they’ve got a stake in this,” he said.

Check out the entire video interview here.