Latest free agent reports not music to the ears of O's fans

For Orioles fans, the emotional roller coaster is still running at high speed. One day they hear the club is "all in" on A.J. Burnett and that he wants to pitch for their team. Today, MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko quotes a source saying Burnett to Baltimore now "doesn't look good" and that he wants to play in the National League. Of the remaining pitchers, when all things are considered, Burnett seems like the best fit for the Orioles, and he might be as good as any other pitcher left on the market. The last two seasons with the Pirates, he went 26-21 with an ERA of 3.41 over 61 starts. I've bought into the fact he could return to the American League East and pitch well, as he's somewhat reinvented himself into a pitcher throwing more sinkers and his groundball rates are exceptional the past two years. ESPN's Keith Law told me he felt Burnett to Baltimore would be a good match. "If Burnett were willing to take a one-year deal, and you might get him for $13 or $14 million, he's worth that, based on his performance the last two years," Law said. "He's a good fit and has always had an affinity for Baltimore. I remember they were on him when I was with Toronto and we got him. It's a market he'd like to play in. "With Burnett, that stuff will play in any division. He's probably a better pitcher at 38 than any point in his career. That would give me some cause for optimism. If it's got to be a two-year deal, you could do two. But if he would take one year, I'd take him at one year even at a fairly high salary because I'm that confident in his ability to perform, even in that division." Is any of this posturing and Burnett just wants to get more money out of the Orioles. That thought, of course, comes to mind, but who knows in this high stakes game of major league free agency. Meanwhile ESPN's Jim Bowden tweeted this earlier today: * "Arroyo might prefer the 'East Coast' but he's soon going to sign with a 'West Coast' team according to a source #Diamondbacks or #Dodgers." If neither Arroyo or Burnett are signed by the Orioles, where does that leave the O's with pitching? The fans have heard the O's are open to spending more and that their payroll could be at or exceed $100 million. They've heard Dan Duquette repeatedly say the club is pursuing a starter, but at this hour none have been added. For the fans, it's frustrating and it's been a tough offseason. The roller coaster is still going strong.