Duquette and Showalter speak at "State of the Orioles" address

The Orioles held their annual "State of the Orioles" address this afternoon at Camden Yards. Season-ticket holders could ask questions of executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter.

Here are some quotes from some of the key topics addressed today.

Duquette on the payroll over the next few years: "We've been wrestling with that question in the office in the warehouse. Ownership understands here that we've been putting a lot of resources into the major league payroll. And probably more resources than the market really supports. So, why would you do that? Well, we did that to keep the core of the team together and try to maintain our competitiveness during this cycle.

"Now, we have taken a step back. We are not going to try to do as much today with our major league payroll, but we'll put those resources into tomorrow. So we are re-directing our resources into our scouting operation, our recruiting, into our player development. We are going to be active on the international market and invest more in technology and facilities.

"Keep in mind we have to play some of the top teams in Major League Baseball. But ownership is committed to fielding a competitive team that is entertaining and affordable for fans. The people that support and connect with our players, the fans, that helps. We consider it an honor to be a part of this market and to have a good team here. It's going to take a while, but we will get back to a team that we can all be proud of."

"I would expect that the club would take the payroll down next year and the year after and reinvest those resources in younger ballplayers. We should be able to do that and get back to competitiveness."

Showalter's response when a fan asked if Dan and Buck will be back next year?: "You know what, it's an honor every day for Dan and I to do this. I don't want to speak for Dan. You know, everyone would love to have a job that is as much fun to go through every day. We have our ups and downs, but we're thankful every day we get to be in professional baseball and, more important, you get a chance to work here in Baltimore."

A fan asked Duquette why the Orioles are just now getting active in the international market?: "The last couple of years we took a lot of the resources from other areas of the company and put that into the major league team. That was an ownership decision to try and extend the competitive window of the current group of players.

"What we've learned from the teams that have gone through the cycle is that you have to invest significantly in all areas where you get player talent. Including the international scouting. So we are going to do that. We're going to return to form. We've got some ground to make up and it's going to take some time.

"Now the Yankees are outspending us almost 2-to-1 in major league payroll and the Red Sox outspend us almost 1 3/4 in major league payroll. But they also are concurrently investing in international. So we've got some work to do. But we understand the importance of it and we know how to make good investments in those areas."

Duquette on the importance of the draft: "The clubs that rebuild, they do well in the high draft picks. When we were playing well, we didn't have the luxury of drafting high. Which was OK, right? We'd rather have a good team and be in playoffs. But that is the foundation of a lot of these rebuilds. We do have a foundation of some players in the minors, but we've got a lot more work to do.

"We have improved our draft position for next year. So we are going to have an opportunity to choose one of the top players in the country and, hopefully, we'll do as well as the Orioles did when they picked (Manny) Machado."

Duquette, when asked about the possibility of calling up Cedric Mullins and/or Ryan Mountcastle: "Mullins we sent to Triple-A, and he showed that he can handle that. So he looks just about ready for a trial here. Mountcastle is working on becoming more selective as a hitter, and his defensive skills. Once he improves on those, he'll be ready for another trial."

Duquette, when asked about the roles of Brooks Robinson and Eddie Murray: "Eddie and Brooks are going to join the club on the business side and help us on the baseball side. They've been invited to spring training. We are looking forward to them helping us in the spring. And they are going to be ambassadors for the team. They have a wealth of experience, obviously. We love them and we're glad to have them back."

Duquette was asked about a salary cap for baseball: "Let me ask the players about that salary cap. What I would like to see is a more level playing field. So clubs have equal amount of resources to invest in their major league payrolls and in their development programs. That would really even the playing field. The NFL did it by stabilizing their income over the TV contract and equally distributing it. And baseball has large markets and small markets, and we've made progress in that area. But it's still an imbalanced landscape."