Duquette continues search for pitching as trade deadline nears

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette continues his search for pitching as the latest trade deadline approaches at midnight.

Players must join the organization by the deadline to be eligible for the playoffs, and they first have to clear waivers.

"I don't know if anything will come together," Duquette said this afternoon. "We've talked with a number of clubs and we've been active actually all month, but we'll see if we match up with anybody."

The Orioles have won seven straight games, their longest streak since stringing together eight in a row April 22-May 1, 2005.

Does the recent surge make it more imperative that the Orioles complete a deal?

"We try to add to our team all year," Duquette said. "We're always looking for opportunities and sometimes they're presented to us and other times not. But we try to staff as strong a team as can get every day."

It all starts with pitching, whether for the rotation or the bullpen.

"Yeah, yeah," Duquette said. "Some pitching got through the trade waiver process. There's a lot that didn't because there are so many clubs still in contention. So any pitchers who are traded this time of the year are at a real premium.

"We've been talking about a couple of different options to see if we can strengthen our staff. It's the last time you can add pitching from outside the organization, so we always look around and see what we can add here and there.

"I do like some of the options we have at Triple-A. I like some of the kids that came up this year and the work that they've done to help the team, so those pitchers are going to be available to us. And we've had some other options develop at Triple-A that would add some depth to our bullpen.

"The real key, of course, is the starting pitching, so we were able to pick up (Jeremy) Hellickson, who's a really good pro and he's helped stabilize the rotation. And then the extra rest that (Dylan) Bundy's had and guys who are returning to form. Those have been good contributors. If can get some of those other veteran pitchers to pitch like they have in the past, that would really be a shot in the arm for us."

Duquette also mentioned Miguel Castro's contributions out of the bullpen, "a good development for the club."

"This time of the year, you don't know exactly where your contributions are going to come from, but I'm encouraged," Duquette added. "We're scoring a lot of runs. The bullpen looks to be intact. When we get a good start we win the ballgame."

Duquette has made six August trades in his five seasons in the front office. It can be easier than reaching agreements at the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

"I think at this time of year teams have a pretty good idea whether they're contenders or not, so there's a little bit more urgency to make a deal," he said. "If you're not a contender you're trying to improve your club for the future and maybe save some salary if you trim your payroll a bit or reallocate the resource to a younger player. But we're always looking around.

"A couple years ago we made a deal, we picked up (Alejandro) De Aza at the trade deadline, and we got (Michael) Bourn. I don't know. We've been trying. Sometimes it comes together, sometimes not."

Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles put in a waiver claim on a player who subsequently was traded to another team. He talked to Duquette earlier this afternoon and said nothing was imminent.

Showalter said he hasn't heard Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander mentioned in any conversations with Duquette.

Duquette and Showalter are looking forward to expanding the roster beginning on Friday.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy confirmed to The Virginian-Pilot that he's rejoining the club Friday. The Orioles will add a non-roster catcher - Chance Sisco or Francisco Peña - a reliever and perhaps outfielder Joey Rickard.

Other players will be summoned after Monday.