Decision pending on De Aza

With all the focus on re-signing free agents Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz and Andrew Miller - listed in order of probability - it's easy to forget that the Orioles need to decide which arbitration-eligible players are tendered contracts for 2015.

Let's start with "the vast majority" and work our way up.

Actually, let's start with a reminder of the 11 players, including their salaries this season and MLBTradeRumors.com's projected salaries for 2015.

Alejandro De Aza: $4.25 million/$5.9 million
Matt Wieters: $7.7 million/$7.9 million
Steve Pearce: $700,000/$2.2 million
Bud Norris: $5.3 million/$8.7 million
Tommy Hunter: $3 million/$4.4 million
Chris Davis: $10.3 million/$11.8 million
Brian Matusz: $2.4 million/$2.7 million
Chris Tillman: $546,000/$5.4 million
Miguel Gonzalez: $529,000/$3.7 million
Ryan Flaherty: $513,000/$1 million
Zach Britton: $521,500/$3.2 million

I've heard that the Orioles will tender Davis a contract, and executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter referenced his return over the past few days. So much for that drama.

MLBTradeRumors.com included De Aza on its list of possible non-tenders due to a projected raise that would bring his salary near $6 million. Is that too much for a player who batted a combined .252/.314/.386 with 24 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs and 41 RBIs in 142 games?

Let's consider that De Aza batted .293/.341/.537 with five doubles, three triples, three home runs and 10 RBIs in only 20 games after the Orioles acquired him from the White Sox on Aug. 30 for two minor league pitchers. He also provided the defensive upgrade that initiated the trade talks.

More production from the left side of the plate and fewer fly balls turning into adventures.

De Aza didn't disappear in the playoffs, going 7-for-21 (.333) with three doubles, three RBIs, a walk and four runs scored.

The decision might be easier if the Orioles knew that David Lough could duplicate his second half, when he went 20-for-57 (.351) with three doubles, a triple and two home runs. Left-handed hitter, plus-defense and he made only $510,500 this year. He isn't arbitration-eligible until 2016.

Lough hit .197/.271/.308 in the first half, but he also had 117 at-bats. No telling how his second half would have evolved with more trips to the plate. Perhaps he was better off with a smaller sample size. We'll never know.

It's not my money, a point that continually needs to be stressed, but I'd keep both of them. De Aza can platoon in left field. Lough can back up at all three outfield spots and add a speed element off the bench, though he needs to work on his basestealing skills. He was 8-for-13 this year and is 14-for-21 in three major league seasons.

I'd make it a priority in spring training.

De Aza could use some work, too. He was 17-for-27 this season, including 2-for-5 with the Orioles, and is 79-for-115 in seven major league seasons.

It's hard to project the outfield without knowing whether Markakis and Cruz are returning. Markakis seems like a sure bet. Cruz could make it back to Baltimore on a three-year deal if another team isn't willing to give him four.

Pearce gives Showalter a right-handed option at both corners as well as first base and designated hitter. His value can't be overstated.

So do you keep De Aza?