Orioles still in arms race as holidays approach

In order to simplify things during the hot stove season, please allow me to introduce myself as the guy who constantly reminds everyone that the Orioles have reached out to or checked in on pretty much every second- and third-tier pitcher on the market. Anyone in need of a bounceback season due to injury or throwing like crap. You can just insert a different name into the tweets on your timelines.

The Orioles want multiple arms - and not just on one body. They want a starter for the top half of the rotation as a replacement for left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, who continues to seek a five-year deal for $100 million, according to a source. They also want to improve their depth, which is where the bounceback pitchers come into play.

The latest name to surface is right-hander Mat Latos, as reported by ESPN.com. Yes, he's exactly the type that attracts executive vice president Dan Duquette, though he doesn't carry the reputation of being a great clubhouse guy.

Latos turned 28 earlier this month and still has upside. He also had the Reds so eager to get him in the winter of 2011 that they surrendered Yonder Alonso, Brad Boxberger, Edison Volquez and Yasmani Grandal. It's a package that included two former first-round draft picks.

Latos, who made $9.4 million this year after losing in arbitration, went 33-16 with a 3.31 ERA and 1.179 WHIP in 81 starts with the Reds over three seasons. They traded him to the Marlins in December 2014 and the downward spiral went into full motion, with Latos going a combined 4-10 with a 4.95 ERA and 1.305 WHIP in 16 starts with Miami, six games (five starts) with the Dodgers and two relief appearances with the Angels.

ESPN.com also reported that the Pirates, Royals, Brewers and Rays have "checked in on" Latos, who most likely is seeking a one-year deal with a chance to improve his value and re-enter the market.

Latos is a native of Alexandria, Va., and as we've learned, that's close enough for the Orioles to consider him local. He grew up in Florida, but all that probably does is give him a better tan. He's still from the mid-Atlantic region.

A healthier Latos might produce better results next summer. He had fluid drained from his left knee in spring training and went on the disabled list in late May. He returned in June and missed a start the following month after being hit on the foot by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout.

I've been asked about Scott Kazmir, and I really don't have any updates beyond how the Orioles are more comfortable offering three years than four and he's not ready to settle.

I've also been asked whether the Orioles could sign Kazmir or Yovani Gallardo and still afford Chris Davis. That's a more likely scenario than if they sign one of the high-profile outfielders on the market.

The plan all along has called for them to make a serious attempt to re-sign Davis and also upgrade the rotation, and they settled on $150 million for the first baseman a while ago. It didn't sneak up on them.

Meanwhile, Tyler Wilson most likely will begin the 2016 season in Triple-A Norfolk's rotation after going 2-2 with a 3.50 ERA in nine games (five starts) with the Orioles this year. His chances of breaking camp with the team obviously improve if it doesn't sign or trade for another starter.

Wilson was asked at FanFest whether it's possible to root for the Orioles to acquire an impact arm while still remaining optimistic that he can compete for a spot in the rotation.

"Absolutely," Wilson replied. "I want the Orioles to win. That's the ultimate goal for everybody. And if they think that signing a starter is what's going to be important to improving our club and giving our team a chance to get back to the postseason, then so be it. I'm ready to contribute in whatever role they deem fit and I'm going to do everything I can every day to be healthy and be ready for that.

"I come into camp thinking I'm going to do everything that I can to be ready to go every day, to get better in spring training and compete. I think that competition from one person to the next is what's going to make this team great and give us a chance to get back to the postseason. I'll be really excited to contribute in any role they deem fit."

What was the biggest lesson learned in those nine major league appearances?

"To trust myself, to trust the process, to trust what's gotten me there," Wilson said.

It may seem obvious, like the part about Wilson's chances improving if the Orioles don't acquire an impact arm, but plenty of young pitchers make the mistake of thinking they have to change in order to succeed at the next level.

"I pitched four years in the minor leagues and each and every step along the way I tried to improve on something, and that's everybody's ultimate goal," Wilson said. "But when you get onto that stage and you finally get to the stage you've been waiting for for so long, to just trust the process and trust what you've done and the things you have improved to be ready for the game."