Chris Davis: "I think there's definitely a sense of urgency"

Everyone has an opinion regarding the wisdom of trading Orioles left-hander Zach Britton before he potentially hits free agency following the 2018 season. Value may never be higher, teams are paying a steep price for closers, the organization needs the prospects that would be included in any return. Also, he's too valuable to part with, the bullpen depth would take a serious hit, the club should be all-in for 2017.

Players hear the same rumors and denials. The Orioles don't seem inclined to move Britton, and they don't want him to leave. They approve of the front office's stance.

Chris Davis was the latest to endorse Britton's return during an interview last week on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan.

"Personally, I don't think Zach should go anywhere. I think he should stay here," Davis said.

"He's the best reliever in the game. Nobody in major league baseball is automatic, but he's probably is one of the guys who's as close to it as I can imagine. And for us, the bullpen is one of our huge positives. I mean, that's one of our strengths. I don't understand why we would be taking any pieces away when we're trying to win. We have the group that we want here.

"Maybe bring in a couple of guys. I think adding to it is a lot better than subtracting."

This is the plan according to executive vice president Dan Duquette, who is in the market for another reliever despite the abundance of arms.

"We know that if we can be within reach late in the game, we know our bullpen can shut them down and we know as an offense that we can win games in the late innings," Davis said. "We just try to do everything we can to keep it close."

Players admit to the feeling that the window is closing on winning a championship. Chris Tillman and J.J. Hardy could become free agents after 2017, and Britton, Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Brad Brach could join them the following winter. The contracts for Duquette and manager Buck Showalter also expire after 2018.

"I think there's definitely a sense of urgency," said Davis, who signed a seven-year, $161 million contract last winter.

"I don't really try to look that far ahead. I guess when we were finalizing the terms of the deal I started thinking about it a little bit, what's this team going to look like in six or seven years, or even three or four years? But that's really out of my control.

"I think the time is now for sure. We've been so close so many times and we know that we have the guys in-house to be there at the end, to be the last team standing, but there has to be a sense of urgency that the time is now."

If it's going to happen, a rotation that currently includes Tillman, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Yovani Gallardo, Ubaldo Jimenez and Wade Miley will have to produce at a level that its critics feel is unattainable. The optimists point to the September surge, with the Orioles starters posting the lowest ERA in the majors.

Can there be a carryover?

"Absolutely," Davis said. "I think really the timing of their success was so big for me. They did it when it counted most. We knew that we were in the hunt and that we had to win baseball games, and that's when guys stepped up.

"I was really proud of Dylan, seeing him back this year and seeing the way he threw the ball, it was awesome. The guy's battled through injuries. I was really proud of Tilly coming back. Gaus, bless his heart, I felt like there were some nights when he could throw seven shutout innings and still end up getting the loss."

Davis' first season after signing his franchise-record deal didn't come close to matching his 2015 production. He tried to fight through a hand injury, but the discomfort increased after the All-Star break and he finished with a .221/.332/.459 slash line, 38 home runs, 84 RBIs and 219 strikeouts - most in the majors.

The same player who's twice led the majors in home runs over the past four seasons will show up in spring training with the same intention.

"I think the goals I set for myself are higher than what most people would put out there," he said. "(Matt) Wieters would always joke with me. He and J.J. (Hardy) would give me a hard time and say, 'You set the bar way too high way too early. Now it's expected of you.' But I welcome that.

"I want our fans, I want my teammates, our coaching staff to expect big things from me and I expect big things from myself."