Gausman and Bundy on being the only confirmed starters

The lack of confirmed starters for the Orioles rotation is both a concern and a source of comedic material.

"It's definitely a little weird, but I'm sure in the next couple weeks we'll probably sign some other guys," Kevin Gausman said at FanFest. "But yeah, it's definitely a little weird right now for sure. I think I've had probably 50 people in the last, I haven't even been here a day, but say something about me pitching every two days. That's the running joke around town I guess right now."

Gausman and Dylan Bundy have conversed over the winter, wondering the same as everyone else. Who's going to join them? And how odd to be the only ones assured of a job?

"We have no idea, but we've got some guys that have been there before and started games for us," Bundy said. "We know they're going to be there in spring training competing and me and Kevin will be there competing, so it should be a fun spring training."

Credit the guy for finding enjoyment in what's been stressing out an entire fan base and more than a few people inside the organization.

"I think this team is only going to go as far as the rotation can take them," Gausman said. "I just feel like we kind of have everything else and we just kind of need to be more consistent. I think we've all pitched well at times and it's just about putting it together for a whole season."

"The winter free agent market has been a bit puzzling," said reliever Darren O'Day, "so I guess the silver lining is we're probably not the only team in that situation. Nothing's moved, so I think that's going to start happening here soon. We tend to wait a little bit later in the winter, so I think hopefully that's going to start happening here once guys start signing.

"In terms of the free agent market, I don't know what's going on, but I have my theories. I'm hoping we have something going here. We have some good candidates in-house, but there's always room to get better."

The bullpen will be taxed again if it must continue to cover for the starters. Orioles relievers logged 595 innings last summer, second in the American League to the Blue Jays (596 2/3) and fourth in the majors.

"I think it would be nice with 10 days to go if we knew who the five starters are going to be or guys who have a chance to be starters, but the bullpen, we really have no choice in that," said reliever Brad Brach. "Buck (Showalter) makes the call in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, whatever it is, it doesn't matter who's out there. I think as a team it would be a little bit nicer to know. Not necessarily as a bullpen. But I guess they know what they're doing, so we'll figure it out.

"It'll get figured out there. We've got to have five guys when the season starts and there are guys more than capable of doing it down in the minor leagues. There's plenty of guys out there right now because the offseason, nothing's going on, but we'll be all right once the season starts."

Is this baseball's version of whistling in a graveyard?

No matter who joins them, Gausman and Bundy will be under pressure to take their games to the next level. No backtracking allowed on a team whose starters posted the worst ERA in club history at 5.70.

Gausman's resurgences in the second half the past two seasons are well-documented. The 4.15 ERA and 1.304 WHIP before the break in 2016 and 3.10 ERA and 1.258 WHIP after it. The opponents' batting average dropping by 20 points. The 5.85 ERA and 1.763 WHIP before the break in 2017 and the 3.41 ERA and 1.204 WHIP after it. The opponents' average dropping by 78 points.

"I've had time to kind of reflect on that and give it some thought," he said. "I actually started throwing a little bit earlier this offseason just because of that reason. I don't know if it's something that my body's not ready for the season to start or what, but I'm doing more baseball stuff more specific to getting ready for spring training and those first couple weeks of spring training. But yeah, it's definitely something that it's frustrating.

"I've been looking back at it trying to figure out what it was and more than anything I think it was just a lack of being consistent in where I was releasing the ball every time and where my foot was landing every time. That's something this offseason I've really done a good job just trying to focus on that and try to control the little things.

"I've been watching a lot of video. I haven't been video of the first half. It's something I just want to watch the good things I did last year. Obviously, I'm not going to sit there and watch the negative things, but yeah, it's something I've been working at it this whole offseason and having to take tape and put down a straight line everywhere I'm throwing. One of those things where it's just a small thing I have to remind myself that it's something that over the course of a season kind of makes a big difference."

Gausman and Jonathan Schoop are the only arbitration-eligible Orioles without contracts for 2018 and it's apparently become more of an irritant to the second baseman - or at least his agent, judging by the advice given to attending FanFest.

The Orioles offered $5.3 million and Gausman's representative filed at $6.225 million. A hearing is set for Feb. 14 and it can be like a box of chocolates. Never know what you're going to get.

"Nothing yet," Gausman said. "It's just one of those things that kind of comes with the territory. It's one of those things I'm confident we'll get a deal done and if not, then we'll go to trial."

No matter his salary for the upcoming season, Gausman will be pitching with changes to the left side of the infield. Manny Machado is ticketed for shortstop unless Showalter changes his mind in spring training, and Tim Beckham is moving to third base.

"I mean, Manny's Manny. He's going to make great plays anywhere he is," Gausman said. "Being at third base, I think reaction is a little bit quicker. I think at short there's more time and with more time some guys, there's almost too much time. And your footwork's really got to be good.

"I think one thing about Manny that makes him so good at third is he gets the ball so quick and he's got so much time to make a good throw over. And I think at short he's going to find it's going to be a little bit quicker. The ball's going to take a little bit longer to get to him, but it's still Manny Machado, so I'm sure he's going to be all right."

Whether he's as dependable as J.J. Hardy remains to be seen, but we know where the bar is set. Showalter has offered tributes to Hardy in various interviews this winter and Gausman put a humorous twist on his own at FanFest.

"One thing I always say about J.J., it might not be the prettiest thing ever, but the throw's going to get there right before the guy every single time," he said. "If it was Big Papi running down or Mookie Betts, the throw was going to get there right before it needed to.

"I don't know how many times it was like, you'd turn around and you're like, 'Just throw it, throw it,' but somehow it happens to get there every time."