Day 4 of the Winter Meetings

NASHVILLE - Welcome to the final day of the 2015 Winter Meetings. We've reached the Rule 5 draft, followed by the stampede of executives and reporters to the airport. Try not to get in the way.

I'm staying later because of my dedication. Or because I whiffed on the 1:30 p.m. flight and don't want to pay the cost of changing my reservation.

What's a few extra hours at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center? Maybe I'll get in a little Christmas shopping.

The Orioles will be "active" in the Rule 5 draft, as stated by executive vice president Dan Duquette. They're also still trying to get that outfielder and starting pitcher, whether it's over the weekend or next week. Duquette seems confident that it's going to happen within that timeframe.

The negotiations with agent Scott Boras provide an interest dynamic. Or maybe it's just a layer of weirdness.

They're frustrated with Boras over the Chris Davis talks, but they need to maintain a cordial relationship and keep the lines of communication open while expressing interest in Pedro Alvarez and Denard Span.

I wonder if there are awkward silences.

I'll state again that the Orioles haven't adjusted their offer to Davis. This is coming from multiple sources.

The Orioles have talked to the Rockies about outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, another Boras client, but I'll express my doubts in two words that a deal will be made: Kevin Gausman.

The Rockies want him. The Orioles want him. Guess who wins this battle?

The Rule 5 pick is expected to be a pitcher or outfielder. The Orioles were intrigued by an infielder, but apparently soured on him. They liked one catcher, but what's the point? They're not carrying three.

The Orioles have the 14th pick, but could move up as teams pass on their selections. Perhaps they can swing another trade, as they did last year to acquire pitcher Jason Garcia from the Astros, who took the right-hander from the Red Sox organization.

Garcia is expected to begin the 2016 season at Double-A Bowie instead of Triple-A Norfolk.

In case you're wondering about Steve Johnson, he didn't have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent. He was non-tendered, not designated for assignment. Yes, it's confusing, but it also eliminated the waiver process. He's free to sign with any team.

Johnson won't have trouble finding another job. Trust me.

Catcher Caleb Joseph stopped by the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center yesterday to visit with manager Buck Showalter, who insisted that he come inside the room where the luncheon was held. Showalter was happy to catch up with his backup catcher.

Here are a few extras from Showalter, who met with the media yesterday:

On having Joseph and Matt Wieters on the roster: "There's plenty of time for everybody. We're all exciting, including Caleb, about having Matt back because it helps us win and that's what we want to do. We have a good luxury that we have two guys capable of catching extensive games and we wouldn't bat an eye with either one of them back there."

On Joseph's excitement over Wieters taking the qualifying offer: "You want to win. If Matt Wieters is on your team, you've got a better chance to win. I think Caleb is mature enough to know ... They're both about the same age. Once you've been on both sides of the mountain, you realize really what's important. At the end of the day, it's about winning baseball games.

"Also, Caleb's return, I've noticed plenty of at bats around. There are things that, if you carry that criteria and that makeup, things seem to work out. I'll find plenty of bats for everybody. They'll get to crying uncle when it's over.

On whether Miguel Gonzalez was healthy after coming off the disabled list: "Nobody's 100 percent. We don't rush back. We did everything possible. But there's a different level when you're pitching in a game than a sim game and a rehab start. You don't completely know where a guy is physically until they get in the major leagues, anyway. So it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case."

"I'll tell you, he's really getting after it. Guys like him and Tilly (Chris Tillman), and I talked to Ubaldo (Jimenez). They've got a really strong burn to get back to the level because they know, most importantly, what it means to our club."

On the bullpen: "We're doing well. We've got a couple of spots open. You all know the situation with Dylan (Bundy). Dylan is going to get the ball a lot this spring and see if he's ready to take the load. We're still kicking around some things in the bullpen market.

"There's two ways to look at it. You can try to build from one end, which you know is very, very expensive, or you can build from the other end, which sometimes isn't quite as expensive. Some people may not agree. Where Darren (O'Day) is concerned, Darren earned every penny he got."

On whether the Orioles have been more aggressive during this offseason: "We've got FanFest this weekend. I ain't getting up on stage in front of our season ticket holders naked, all right? In more ways than one. I'm just kidding. It's what's presented itself that's worked. If the timetable is quicker, that's why. It's just it presented itself as such. The backbone is always going to be the people we have in our system, like Caleb and everybody else.

"If you look at our third basemen from our system, our shortstop was acquired through people from our system, our second baseman is from our system, our catcher is through our system, our first baseman might be through our system if it doesn't work out with Chris. I can go right around the diamond. I like where we are in the offseason. I like the irons we have in the fire right now that fits who we are and how we have to do things."

On the rising payroll: "Everybody's going up somewhat. We were always kind of at the top of the second tier. If you look at baseball, there's a front third tier, middle tier, and we always kind of fit ... I know we're trying to correctly pay people.

"I've heard Dan talk about it where they make sure the pay scale fits that. I said many times, our ownership has been great since I got here. We've got every resource we need to compete with these people. We just have to be good at things that they may not have to be."

And finally, a reminder that this is the last day to bid on Orioles auction items to assist Major League Baseball's efforts to stand up to cancer.

Check out this video interview with vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson, who's offering fans a chance to work out with him and have lunch in spring training.