Boras met with Orioles to discuss ways to improve Davis' output

LAS VEGAS - The lack of a buzz surrounding the Orioles at baseball's Winter Meetings, the heavy silence that's pervasive beyond the managerial chatter, has been deafening.

The only interesting note so far today was agent Scott Boras revealing during his annual media scrum that he met with team officials yesterday, but not to pitch a client.

Rather, to assist in getting more production out of one.

Boras said he talked to the Orioles last night regarding first baseman Chris Davis, who has four years and $110 million remaining on a contract that's backfired on the organization. Boras used the term "advancing this and getting Chris' abilities on the field" while describing the reasoning behind the meeting at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

"We've had many players who have got great histories, and physically you know they're well," Boras said.

"We know he can do it, He's done it many years, many times, and obviously we're making great efforts and strides to get him back to being normal."

Davis had an historically bad season in 2018, batting .168/.243/.296 with 192 strikeouts in 522 plate appearances. His home runs totals have dropped from 38 to 26 to 16 over the past three seasons since receiving the largest contract in club history and he's been limited to 128 games in 2017 and 2018.

Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias stated as his introduction that he'd be involved in Davis' offseason program and anticipated a bounce back season.

* I've written this previously, but major league scout Dave Engle survived the sweeping changes in the organization. He's part of the Orioles contingent in Las Vegas.

So, too, is director of minor league operations Kent Qualls and international scouts Calvin Maduro and Luis Noel. Maduro is based in the U.S. and Noel in the Dominican Republic.

Cale Cox, let go as assistant director of minor league and international operations, hasn't latched on with another team. The timing of these dismissals makes is more challenging to find jobs.