Brach on O'Day: "Darren's leadership is second to none"

There's a pretty good chance today that the Orioles will announce their four-year deal with reliever Darren O'Day. Do it quick before he checks Twitter.

O'Day agreed to terms last Monday. He took and passed his physical. I believe there was an insurance issue that needed to be worked out.

This is one of the more complicated deals with its deferred money and partial no-trade clauses, but the sides finally may have reached the finish line.

"Darren's been huge for my career personally, just being able to talk pitching and having a veteran guy who you can bounce ideas off any day," said Brad Brach. "It's huge. And he makes the whole bullpen click. Anytime you can have three or four of us, you can plug in from the sixth to the ninth, at least that's the way we look at it, that's great to have. And Darren's leadership is second to none."

The leadership factor can't be overstated. It was a prime reason why the Orioles offered a fourth year. Center fielder Adam Jones talked on Saturday about O'Day's importance to the clubhouse.

Brach considered the possibility of taking over the eighth inning set-up role from O'Day. He wasn't rooting for it. He just knew that it could happen.

"I was preparing mentally for that, to maybe be the set-up guy," Brach said, "but having him back really helps our team tremendously, so it's great having him back."

I've stated that it's too early for Mychal Givens to be handed the role. Let him keep learning from O'Day and ease into it. The kid has a world of potential and ample time to reach it.

"It's really an honor to have him back because he was my throwing partner, and to be able to learn all the stuff he's done in his career, it helped me to hopefully become just as successful as in his career," Givens said. "He has great stats and we all know to have him back is a great honor."

Ryan Flaherty stayed in touch with O'Day and kept his fingers crossed.

"I texted with him a few times back and forth and I know he likes it here," Flaherty said. "I know his family is based here and he and Buck (Showalter) have a strong relationship. He enjoys pitching under him and he's had success, so I think he wanted to stay here."

Left-hander Brian Matusz will be stretched out again next spring in case the Orioles want to insert him into the rotation, but he's expected to assume his usual role and further strengthen the back end of the bullpen.

"It looks like everybody's coming back," he said. "It's great to see Darren sign a deal and get what he deserves. He's been such a huge asset to this team the last four years and it's great to have Darren back.

"He's the captain of the bullpen. He's the veteran, the guy, and we're happy to have him back."

Matusz underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Oct. 5 to repair the AC joint. Ravens physician Dr. Leigh Ann Curl also cleaned out about a centimeter worth of arthritic bone in the shoulder.

"It's been great," Matusz said. "It was four or five weeks of not doing anything. I've slowly been able to do some exercises and working out. I'm about a week into workouts and I've been playing golf, so it feels 100 percent. Credit to Dr. Curl and her team. I feel healthy and excited for another season.

"I'm slowly easing in. I usually take about a month off after the season ends anyway and then slowly progress in the workouts, and that's kind of been the plan right now. No setbacks. Everything feels 100 percent. So far, so good."

Note: The Orioles signed left-handers Jeff Beliveau and Zack Dodson and outfielder Rubi Silva to minor league deals, according to Baseball America's transactions page.

Beliveau, who turns 29 next month, has posted a 4.00 ERA in 58 major league games over four seasons. He appeared in five games with the Rays this year and allowed four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings before undergoing surgery in April to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Dodson, 25, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Pirates in 2009 out of Medina Valley (Texas) High School. He was 7-10 with a 3.67 ERA in 28 games (27) starts this year at Double-A Altoona.

The Cubs released Silva, 26, in August. He's a career. 282/.305/.429 hitter in five minor league seasons and has played all three outfield positions and second base.