Showalter meeting with Rasmus this week

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

December 31, 2014, 12:21pm

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If the Orioles are going to sign free agent outfielder Colby Rasmus, he's got to pass the eye test of manager Buck Showalter.

Showalter is planning to meet with Rasmus this week at the outfielder's Georgia home, according to a source. An agreement could be reached soon after on a one-year deal.

The Orioles believe they can get Rasmus in the range of $5 million to $8 million. He wants to come to Baltimore, according to a source, and use a one-year deal as a platform for a bigger payday.

Rasmus has become the Orioles' primary target as they seek a left-handed hitter. They rate him ahead of Ichiro Suzuki and Nori Aoki.

Showalter had similar meetings with Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young before the Orioles signed them to one-year deals. He also had a conference call with troubled reliever Alfredo Aceves before the Orioles signed him to a minor league deal at the January minicamp.

Rasmus, who doesn't turn 29 until August, is a former first-round pick who batted .276/.338/.501 with 26 doubles and 22 home runs in 118 games with the Blue Jays in 2013. Though primarily a center fielder, the Orioles think he can handle the corners.

Rasmus lost his center field job with Toronto this year after hitting .225/.287/.448 with 18 homers and 124 strikeouts in 104 games and 346 at-bats. He's developed a poor reputation and Showalter wants to check him out before signing off on a deal.