Closing book on Carter, updating Wieters, camp battles and more

I was asked again yesterday morning about the possibility of the Orioles signing free agent slugger Chris Carter to serve as the designated hitter. Well, the club's reported interest earlier in the winter was exaggerated and I never got the sense that it picked up before he reached an agreement with the Yankees on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

I guess 41 home runs don't go as far financially as they used to, at least this winter.

Mark Trumbo will get plenty of at-bats in the DH role and also could move to right field against left-handed starters. Executive vice president Dan Duquette wants another outfielder, preferably on a minor league deal. Carter didn't fit.

The bigger bucks for Carter supposedly were in Japan, but he wanted to stay in the U.S. I'm not sure where he's getting at-bats with the Yankees, but they'll figure it out.

Meanwhile, catcher Matt Wieters still needs to find a home. Did anyone expect him to be available on Feb. 8?

I'm told that the Orioles haven't had any recent discussions with agent Scott Boras despite the possibility of getting Wieters at a reduced rate. They're content to go with Welington Castillo and either Caleb Joseph or Francisco Pena while waiting for top prospect Chance Sisco, who's slated to begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

I've heard the counterarguments that Wieters could pair with Castillo and also serve as a right-handed DH while Trumbo moves to right field, but it just doesn't seem to be under consideration. The Orioles want to direct their remaining funds elsewhere - the outfield and pitching depth - and prefer minor league deals if possible.

I won't completely dismiss anything at this point. I'm still scarred from my "that ship has sailed" proclamation regarding Miguel Tejada before he returned for the 2010 season - or at least 97 games of it until the Orioles traded him to the Padres for minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer. But at this time on this date, there's nothing going on to suggest that the Orioles could re-sign Wieters.

It's true that some people in the organization gladly would take Wieters on a one-year contract, but it's not unanimous. And I'm sure that Boras still believes there's a better deal out there, one where Wieters is the starter and is paid beyond 2017.

Assuming that there's no change, backup catcher will be one of the more interesting battles in camp - if you get excited about backup catchers, of course. Joseph's remaining option adds an element of intrigue.

There's also the bullpen and bench, which can't be projected until Duquette is done making moves. Another reliever, for example, changes the first equation, and that's especially true if it's a left-hander. Donnie Hart still could break camp with the team, but the odds must be adjusted if a veteran agrees to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

T.J. McFarland and Oliver Drake are out of options, which makes them featured players in the storyline. Logan Verrett is the assumed replacement for Vance Worley, who turned down the Orioles' offer and signed a minor league deal with the Nationals, but you know what happens when you assume.

Left-hander Brian Matusz remains on the market, but the Orioles haven't been involved in negotiations to bring him back.

Tyler Wilson, Mike Wright and Joe Gunkel will compete for long relief/swingman roles. Failing to break camp with the team, they will become part of Norfolk's rotation.

Logan Ondrusek signed a one-year deal with an option, putting him in the bullpen mix, but only if he improves against left-handers. They were 6-for-11 with three doubles, a home run and two walks against him last season.

Former Orioles outfielder David Lough confirmed on Twitter yesterday that he signed a minor league deal with the Tigers. I heard that the Angels had some interest earlier this winter, but the Orioles never seemed to be in on him.

The Twins signed outfielder Drew Stubbs to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. He was 3-for-22 with 11 strikeouts after joining the Orioles on an Aug. 31 waiver claim.

I passed along the list of spring training invites yesterday, which included catcher Yermin Mercedes, who won the South Atlantic League batting title last season at 23.

The Nationals released Mercedes from their Dominican Summer League team in August 2013 and the Orioles signed him in September 2014. He can hit and has a strong arm, but the reports on his overall work behind the plate aren't positive.

The Orioles wanted six catchers at spring training and Austin Wynns' ankle injury left him off the invite list. However, he's going to report to early minor league camp at Twin Lakes Park in a few weeks and will move to the Ed Smith Stadium complex after proving that he's recovered.

I wrote recently that Wynn is working out and have since been told that the swelling in his ankle is gone. He could switch places with Mercedes.

Outfielder David Washington, listed at 6-foot-5 and 260 lbs., is my early favorite to win the Jake Fox Award in the Grapefruit League. He's going to hit tape-measure home runs and some fans will insist that the Orioles need to bring him north.

You can read all about him here.