Rickard among Orioles with uncertain futures

Contracts are on the verge of expiring for a multitude of individuals in the Orioles organization, including the coaching staff that served under former manager Buck Showalter. Meanwhile, there are players wondering if they're included in any future plans, unsure of Showalter's replacement and how they fit into the rebuild.

A fresh set of eyes could inject life into a career or deflate it.

Joey Rickard must be wondering whether he can break camp with the team next spring and if he's going to get a legitimate chance to be a regular or serve as an extra outfielder.

His odds of avoiding another assignment to Triple-A Norfolk improve, of course, if the Orioles carry a four-man bench. But no one knows who's going to be calling the shots and whether his preference is to go with 12 or 13 pitchers.

A veteran outfielder could be signed or acquired in a trade, a common move for the Orioles that in recent years has included David Lough, Hyun Soo Kim, Mark Trumbo, Michael Bourn, Seth Smith, Travis Snider, Craig Gentry and Colby Rasmus. An outfielder might be selected in the Rule 5 draft, as Rickard and Anthony Santander can attest.

We also don't know who's going to be influencing the decisions made at the Winter Meetings.

As Rickard dumped his belongings into a box to be shipped home during the final weekend of the season, he couldn't project his role for 2019 or rate his chances of sticking in the majors. And this was before receiving confirmation that Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette wouldn't have their contracts extended.

"You never think too far ahead," he said. "I'm just going to come in like the last couple of years and compete and make them think that I deserve to be on the team. As far as what my role is, I don't know. I'm just going to go out there and just play."

Rickard appeared in 79 games, his lowest total in three seasons, and batted .244/.300/.413 with 10 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 23 RBIs in 230 plate appearances. He made starts at all three outfield positions.

Most of Rickard's productivity came against the Rays, his first organization. He went 16-for-38 (.421) with four doubles, a triple, four home runs and 17 RBIs.

Showalter increased Rickard's playing time in September - the 19 games, 16 starts and 64 plate appearances his highest totals for any month. He had a .208/.279/.376 slash line in 111 plate appearances in the first half and a .277/.319/.446 line in 119 plate appearances after the All-Star break.

It could prove meaningful for Rickard heading into spring training, or meaningless if the new hires decide they can find an upgrade or consider him Triple-A depth. Organizational uncertainty also touches the ones with contracts that aren't expiring.

"I think I did OK," he said. "It was a tough year just overall, so I think at times like this you learn what people are really made of, and it kind of brings you closer together. So I think it's one positive take out of it.

"There's always room for improvement. I think pretty much everything overall. Just be more consistent, be more prepared. Just coming off the bench and playing my role a little bit. Yeah, I can say I learned a lot."

Except who holds his professional future in their hands.

Today's question: Who are your top three choices for manager in 2019?