Darren O'Day said Orioles have shown interest in re-signing him

He didn't characterize it as actual contract negotiations, but Orioles reliever Darren O'Day said in the clubhouse this morning that he wants to remain an Oriole and the team has expressed that same interest.

"Just kind of feelers to see where my interest is. To see if I'm interested in coming back. Yes I am, so, that is where we're at really," O'Day, a pending free agent, said.

"They've expressed interest. I know they like me as a pitcher and as a person. Yeah, you know, I'd love to come back if they'd like to have me back, so we are going to continue talking about that. I've had a good run of things these past four years, and I don't see any reason we shouldn't keep talking about it."

In his fourth year as an Oriole, O'Day has had a very successful tenure with the team, especially considering that the Orioles acquired him via a waiver claim in November of 2011. He is 6-2 with a 1.54 ERA and six saves in 67 games this season.

He was asked if it is exciting to be this close to free agency.

"You know what, I've already been in the game so much longer than I thought I would be. Just to be able to play the game for this long, it is exciting. I never thought I'd get to my seventh or eighth year. In that aspect, it is exciting, yes," he said.

There is some speculation that teams could pursue O'Day to be their closer. But he indicated that was not a top priority for him.

"It's not something I lay awake at night and think about doing. I don't feel like I have to be a closer to be validated," O'Day. "But if somebody wants me to do that, I'd be glad to do it. I enjoy what I do. Sometimes those situations in the seventh or eighth are harder situations to get out of than the ninth. I appreciate what closers do, I'm not saying their job is easy. They want me to close or set up, I'll do whatever they want me to do."