A look at areas of impact of the Chris Davis deal

Taking a look at some of the impact of the Orioles' seven-year deal with first baseman Chris Davis:

* While the Orioles lost Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz via free agency last winter - and pitcher Wei-Yin Chen this offseason - they still have a solid core group of players under team control for several more seasons.

Some are signed to long-term contracts and others are under team control through arbitration and not eligible for free agency for several years.

Through 2017: J.J. Hardy, Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Hyun Soo Kim, Ryan Flaherty and Ubaldo Jimenez.

Through 2018: Adam Jones, Zach Britton, Vance Worley, Brad Brach and Manny Machado.

Through 2019: Darren O'Day and Jonathan Schoop.

Through 2020: Kevin Gausman, Jason Garcia and Caleb Joseph.

Through 2022: Chris Davis.

* The contract terms might allow the Orioles to maintain further budget room for more signings this winter. ESPN's Buster Olney reported that Davis will get $17 million from 2016-2022. Then he will get payments of $3.5 million per year from 2023-2032 and $1.4 million from 2033-2037. That is $42 million in deferred payments spread over 15 years starting in 2023.

By my calculations, counting Davis at $17 million for 2016, the Orioles payroll is at about the $126 million mark. That is counting 15 players with salaries locked in for next year and two (Britton and Brian Matusz) that the club has exchanged salary arbitration figures with. Several players will make at or near the league minimum as pre-arbitration players.

The Orioles could add a pitcher, and maybe even one or two other smaller salary types, and still be in the neighborhood of $140 million. That would be a significant jump from the opening day payroll of $119 million last year, but might be what is needed to solidify the team as an American League East contender.

The Orioles have six players who will earn more than $9 million next year and three that will earn more than $15 million in 2016:

* $17 million - Chris Davis
* $16.3 million - Adam Jones
* $15.8 million - Matt Wieters
* $13.0 million - Ubaldo Jimenez
* $12.5 million - J.J. Hardy
* $9.15 million - Mark Trumbo

That adds up to $49.1 million for the top three salaried players and $83.75 million for the top six.

* What does the Davis agreement mean for minor league first basemen Trey Mancini and Christian Walker?

Well, they are perhaps more expendable via a trade than they likely were before the agreement. They also will both likely still head to Triple-A Norfolk in 2016 - and that was pretty much the plan all along, even if Davis did not come back. They both need more minor league time and can co-exist at Triple-A as long as one can DH at times.

In a year from now, if either Mancini or Walker look ready for an everyday big league job, I would guess it is possible Davis could move to right field. Neither Walker or Mancini seem to have the speed or some of the skills required for an outfielder. Davis has those skills.

But if Mancini and Walker continue to progress, the Orioles will have two solid first basemen on the cusp of the majors. Having too much talent is not a problem.

* Could this be a possible O's lineup if there were a game today:

RF Nolan Reimold
3B Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
1B Chris Davis
DH Mark Trumbo
C Matt Wieters
SS J.J. Hardy
2B Jonathan Schoop
LF Hyun Soo Kim