Caleb Joseph: "I'll be the first one to hope that Matt signs back here"

With Matt Wieters potentially playing his last few games as an Oriole - he is a pending free agent - what might the catching position look like for the Orioles next year?

Caleb Joseph has certainly done a solid job behind the plate. At the plate, he is batting .237 with 11 homers and 49 RBIs in 317 at-bats. His slugging percentage and OPS have increased from last season to this year, from .354 to .397 slugging and from .618 to .699 in OPS.

If - and it's a big if right now - but if Wieters leaves via free agency, does Joseph feel ready to become the Orioles' No. 1 catcher?

"I'll be the first one to hope that Matt signs back here," Joseph said in the Orioles clubhouse Thursday. "We've become great friends and he has taught me so much. I don't even want to think about him not being here.

"But this year, especially in the first half, I was pretty much the starter until Matt returned. I think I do have an idea of what it takes mentally and physically. Understand the routine and what pitchers need.

"But hopefully that is not the case. Hopefully Matt is here and we continue to be teammates and buddies. But the Orioles have to do what is best for them and Matt has to do what is best for him as well. That is strange to think about. This is a guy I tried to model my game after when I was in the minors. To think about him not being in that corner over there is kind of weird. I hope he signs back here."

Joseph has thrown out 29.4 percent (15-of-51) of baserunners trying to steal on him this year and 33.3 percent in his career. The Orioles are 39-9 in his career when he drives in at least one run.

As Joseph looked around the clubhouse yesterday, he thought back to the fun of the 2014 American League East title run and how very different it is now for the Orioles.

"It's disappointment," he said. "You set out with a goal in mind first day of spring of playing meaningful games in October again. Anything less is a disappointment.

"It's a weird feeling right now seeing all these boxes. When we were done last year, it was just over, there was no planning for it to be over. We had high hopes for this season and it didn't happen for multiple reasons. Watching another team celebrate is a tough pill to swallow. No good."

Several players have said this week they are savoring the final games of the 2015 season as they are very aware that several players may be playing somewhere else next April.

"You form a lot of friendships each year. We understand that people have to do what is best for their family and their situation. But it's a weird feeling knowing some of your friends may not be back. It is weird thinking about what could happen over the next few months. Looking at these boxes, it's like a breakup. A pre-planned breakup with a high school sweetheart," Joseph said.