Duquette confident Orioles will leave meetings with a couple of players

SAN DIEGO - Orioles general manager Dan Duquette made it through today's media session at the Winter Meetings without fielding any questions about the Blue Jays.

Must be those reports that Paul Beeston will return as Toronto's president/CEO in 2015.

Duquette said he spoke to "a bunch" of agents and had trade discussions with four or five executives concerning outfielders and relievers. He's looking for left-handers and right-handers.

After noting that the market is starting to take shape, Duquette said he should be able to get a couple of players before leaving these meetings.

Duquette also met with representatives for a couple of free agent catchers, but he repeated that he expects Matt Wieters to be behind the plate on opening day. Duquette wouldn't say whether the club might consider using Wieters as a designated hitter early in the season if he's not quite ready to throw in games.

Duquette doesn't seem impressed with the remaining backup shortstop options on the market.

Asked whether he's looking for a potential leadoff hitter, Duquette talked about in-house candidates Alejandro De Aza and David Lough. He added, however, that they need to improve their on-base percentages.

Duquette met with Phillies executives today to discuss veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd, according to an industry source. He didn't deny the FOXSports.com report, saying only that it's "interesting."

Byrd batted .264/.312/.445 with 28 doubles, two triples, 25 home runs and 85 RBIs in 154 games with the Phillies, who signed him as a free agent in November 2013. He totaled 35 walks and 185 strikeouts in 637 plate appearances.

Byrd, 37, is a career .278/.333/.427 hitter in 13 major league seasons spent with seven clubs, including two stops in Philadelphia. He's due $8 million next season and his contract includes an $8 million vesting option in 2016 that becomes a team option if he doesn't attain the necessary plate appearances.

Former Orioles bullpen catcher Ronnie Deck is here in search of a job. The Orioles reassigned him to a scouting role last season, but they recently let him go.

Former Orioles pitcher Jim Hoey stopped me in the lobby today and we spent a few minutes chatting about his new career in marketing and how much he's enjoying the Orioles' three consecutive winning seasons.

I jokingly told him that he'd be subjected to comments about shortstop J.J. Hardy if he visited Camden Yards next summer.

The Orioles acquired Hardy from the Twins in December 2010 for Hoey and minor league pitcher Brett Jacobson. Hoey said he always tells people that the Orioles got the better end of that deal.