Chris Davis on his future, the Orioles' future and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said he was not questioning the direction of the team in recent comments he made. But he does understand that 2015 will be a critical season for the organization, which has 11 pending free agents.

This could be the last hurrah for this current group of Orioles, who lead the American League East with 274 wins and two playoff appearances the last three years.

On March 9, Davis told The Baltimore Sun, "Some things are going to have to change as far as contracts are concerned, because we have a lot of young guys that you're going to have a chance to sign before free agency and, I'll tell you one thing, I'm not going to play for a team that has no shot at competing every year. The next contract I sign I would like it to be my last one, and I have no desire to play for a loser every year."

In an interview Sunday in the Orioles clubhouse, Davis said he was not questioning the club's ownership, management and/or its future direction.

"No, I was just speaking what is on the hearts and minds of the other guys in the clubhouse," he said. "You ask anyone that is in here, this is a great place to come to work every day. You have a great organization, great coaching staff, great scouting department. It's a fun place to come to work and we want to keep it that way. There is a lot to be said for chemistry in the clubhouse.

"A little uncertainty was revealed when Nicky (Markakis) departed and I think guys just want to know where the team stands as far as keeping this group together.

"We all know it is not going to be possible to keep everyone in here. But for the most part, we want to see our core players stick around and continue the winning tradition that we brought back to Baltimore."

So does Davis believe that Orioles management is committed to winning?

"I do," he said. "I feel like the last few years have proven that. Locking J.J. (Hardy) up, locking Jonesy (Adam Jones) up. I know they have their hands full right now and in no way do I want their job. They have a hard enough job as it is to deal with contracts, free agents, trades and prospects.

"But over the last few years, they have shown their willingness - signing Nelly (Nelson Cruz), signing Ubaldo (Jimenez). The drive is definitely there. I just think it would be nice to know some of these guys are going to be around for the long haul."

That includes Davis himself. He can be a free agent after the 2015 season. He's found a home in Baltimore and had his breakout 2013 season as an Oriole, but this could be his final year with the club.

He said he now assumes that any contract talks leading to a new deal for him will probably not happen during this season and he will likely hit the free agent market next November. Then he'll see where his future leads him.

"Most likely (there will be no in-season negotiations). Talks have been pretty quiet for a while," Davis said. "I was happy to see they signed J.J. during the season last year. But for the most part, once the season starts, we are committed to one thing and that is where our focus is.

"I'm not going to think about a contract. As far as I'm concerned, my business is to take care of all the things I can on the field."

Along those lines, Davis feels confident he'll have a good season starting next month. He hit just .196 last year with 26 homers and 72 RBIs. It was a year where he dealt with an oblique injury, then ended it serving a 25-game suspension.

He said many fans still supported him after his suspension and he could understand those that were upset with him, too.

"It was a horrible time for me to make that mistake, but hopefully one mistake doesn't define the body of work I've done here over the last three years," he said. "If anything, you forgive and forget and move on.

"A lot of people were saying I cost the team the World Series and all that stuff. Honestly, if one man cost your team the World Series, it doesn't really say much about the rest of the guys. I don't like to hear that. I feel like it takes a lot away from the guys around me. They did just as well as they would have done with me in the lineup. I'm proud of the way the guys battled."

It was a 2014 season that was tough on Davis, but he blames himself for that.

"A lot of it was self-inflicted with the suspension," he said. "But as far as the season was concerned, I never really felt like I was that far away. Even though I was hitting a buck-95, I didn't feel I was that bad of a hitter. I was seeing the ball well all year, but I wasn't able to put into play what I was doing in BP and in the cages. Always felt like I was one game away, but it never got turned around."

Now he is turning the page on last year and is excited for a fresh start in the new season.

"No doubt. After everything that happened last year, I was just ready to kind of wipe the slate clean and move forward," Davis said. "I think everyone in this clubhouse is ready to move forward. Not proud of my mistake, but I won't ever make it again and this year is going to be a lot different."

So as Davis preps himself for another year as an Oriole, he does so not knowing if it will be his last here and not knowing if this is the last chance for the current group to make a run at a World Series title.

"I hope not, but it could be," Davis said. "You never know what is going to happen with guys. Trades, free agency, injuries. If it is, hopefully it will be a great one."