Updating Hendrickson

Free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson isn't preoccupied with thoughts of his next contract. He got married over the weekend, so his priorities have shifted. Hendrickson just told me that he remains encouraged that he'll re-sign with the Orioles, but nothing is imminent. "Right now, it's always kind of tough because it's the Thanksgiving week. Usually, everything slows to a crawl in the world of Major League Baseball," he said. "If I don't hear anything, we've already had discussions and made contact with each other, the Orioles and my agent (Joe Urbon). Other than that, we'll wait and see how things play out. Perhaps next week, and as the winter meetings roll around." Orioles manager Dave Trembley wants Hendrickson back. He made that point very clear late in the season. And Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, seems to be in agreement. I'm confident that it will happen eventually, and the Orioles can decide later whether Hendrickson is more of a situational lefty or a middle reliever/swingman. He was 4-0 with a 3.44 ERA in 55 innings as a reliever, and 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA in 11 starts covering 50 innings. He closed the season with three straight quality starts. "There's nothing really going on anywhere in baseball," Hendrickson said. "Rumors fly around about a lot of people, but there's not a whole lot of action. That's normal this time of the year. I think things will pick up soon. "I don't worry about it. I've been down this road before and I think all the other free agents have, too." In case you're wondering - and I did ask - Hendrickson and his wife will spend their honeymoon in St. Lucia. "It's a nice week to get away," he said. He can worry about his contract later.