De Aza on contract, leadoff chance and more (plus Keys stadium naming rights deal)

So the Orioles have settled 10 of their 11 arbitration cases before they went to any hearings. Shouldn't it be 11-for-11? It probably should. The lone case to resolve is with outfielder Alejandro De Aza. The player is seeking $5.65 million with the club offering $5 million. Can't the sides just meet in the middle? What is the holdup here? Will there really be a hearing over such a small difference? Even Scott Boras can resolve an arbitration case. When asked about this during FanFest, De Aza said he didn't have any specifics or information to provide. "Honestly, I don't know anything about it. I only know about playing the game. The contract is between the front office and my agent," he said. De Aza had a slash line of .243/.309/.354 in 122 games with the White Sox in 2014 and .293/.341/.537 in 20 games as an Oriole. The Orioles went 14-6 in the 20 games he played. De Aza has averaged 536 at-bats the last three seasons and probably has a decent chance to get that many as a regular, or very close to one, this year after the Orioles lost Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis via free agency. "I'm going to work hard and play hard and let them make the decision, you know. Try to do what I do every day to be on the team," he said. "Cruz and Nick, they are good players. I think we are going to miss them a lot. They are good players, good in the clubhouse and were good teammates. But the outfield, honestly, whoever they put out there will try to do the job." I'm sure the Orioles would gladly take a repeat of De Aza's 2012 season with the White Sox. He hit .281 with 29 doubles, six triples, nine homers, 81 runs and 50 RBIs. He had a .349 OBP, a .760 OPS and 26 stolen bases. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter may not only get a lot of at-bats for the Orioles this year, but they may come in the leadoff spot. He has a lot of experience batting atop the order. Markakis has a career slash line of .294/.353/.402 in 982 at-bats batting leadoff. De Aza has a slash line of .271/.334/.405 in 1,219 career leadoff at-bats. He knows he may get a shot to bat first, but said he won't go into spring training assuming that. "I can't just go there and tell them I want to lead off and have them just give me the spot," De Aza said. "I have to work hard. Every spring training is important. You have to show what you've got, show the team you can play. "Me as a leadoff, I just try to play the game and let the game dictate what to do. Just go out and do my best." One thing about De Aza we know and don't have to assume: He's very happy to be an Oriole. He came over from the White Sox in a trade last Aug. 30 for minor league pitchers Mark Blackmar and Miguel Chalas. With the Orioles, he had a chance to play in the postseason for the first time in his career. He went 7-for-21 with three doubles and three RBIs in the playoffs. "I thank God I got picked up by this team here. That was a big step for me. It was like I was reborn in the game again," he said. Keys naming rights deal: The Single-A Frederick Keys and Nymeo Federal Credit Union have announced a seven-year agreement for Nymeo to become Harry Grove Stadium's naming rights partner. Starting with the 2015 season, the Keys ballpark will be known as "Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium." Opened in 1990, the Keys' stadium was built thanks to the generosity of the Grove family, according to a team news release. The ballpark is named in memory of Harry Grove who was one of the founders of the Frederick Hustlers, the first professional sports team in Frederick. This upcoming season marks the 100-year anniversary of the Hustlers, and the city's first professional championship. In 2015, the Keys begin their 27th season and their 26th at Harry Grove Stadium. During that time, more than 7.3 million fans have passed through the gates. Exclusively an Orioles affiliate since 1989, the Keys have the longest-tenured relationship with a parent affiliate in the Carolina League. This past September, the club signed a four-year player development contract extension with the Orioles, which will make Frederick a Baltimore affiliate through at least the 2018 season. "I am very excited to see this partnership with Nymeo come to fruition," said Frederick mayor Randy McClement. "Harry Grove Stadium is an asset to the city of Frederick and has provided many hours of enjoyment and excitement to baseball fans of all ages. We are proud the Frederick Keys and Nymeo formed this partnership to continue the great tradition of baseball in our city." Babe's Bash: It is one of the top events of the year on the Baltimore sports calender and it is set for tonight. It is the annual Babe Ruth's Birthday Bash, set for this evening from 5:30-9 p.m. at Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards. Among the celebrities scheduled to attend are former Oriole Mike Bordick and U.S. Olympic figure skater Kimmie Meissner. Several former Baltimore Colts are expected to attend as well. Maryland native and former Atlanta Brave and Falcon Brian Jordan will be honored with the 2015 Babe Ruth Museum Community Service Award. The award was created to honor Ruth's memory by recognizing an active or former pro athlete or individual with ties to the Maryland sports community who has demonstrated a strong devotion to Baltimore and Maryland by giving back to the community. Previous recipients include Adam Jones, O.J. Brigance and his wife Chandra, Matt Stover, Edwin Mulitalo, Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora, Nick and Christina Markakis and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. I'll be there and taking part in a forum on the Orioles with a Q&A session with fans. Tickets are $55 if purchased in advance and $60 at the door tonight. That includes food, drinks and parking. Call 410-727-1539 ext. 3033 for tickets and more information. Hope to see you there.