Duquette on Wieters, Trumbo, Brach and Britton

Catchers are dropping off the free agent market like windblown popups. Executive vice president Dan Duquette has targeted Welington Castillo, and to a lesser degree, former Oriole Nick Hundley. He isn't walking away from Matt Wieters, but he can't drag his feet.

If it's going to take until after New Year's for Wieters to choose a team, his career with the Orioles won't stretch beyond this year.

"I think we're going to need to move on the catchers market before January and I'm confident we'll be able to sign somebody to help the ballclub," Duquette said last night on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan.

Wouldn't it be tough to walk away from Wieters, the team's first-round pick in 2007 and one of the most hyped prospects in franchise history, his much-anticipated major league debut almost having the feel of a national holiday?

Duquette posed his own question.

"Do you think he walked away from us when he became a free agent?"

I already wrote that Duquette met again yesterday with agent Joel Wolfe, who represents free agent outfielder Mark Trumbo.

"That's an ongoing discussion. We left the door open for Mark Trumbo," Duquette said.

"I like Mark Trumbo. He had a great year. He had the best year of his career. We made a couple of offers to try to sign him that haven't resulted in a deal. I can't tell you where that's going to go. I can tell you that if he signs with somebody else that we get a first-round pick. And we have Trey Mancini who's ready to step in and contribute with the bat. Those are the two things I know for sure.

"Whether we're going to get a deal with Trumbo, I don't know the answer to that."

Edwin Encarnacion turned down a four-year, $80 million offer from the Blue Jays and now his agent is scrambling to find a match. The Astros signed Carlos Beltran, the Yankees signed Matt Holliday, the Blue Jays signed Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce, and the Red Sox signed Mitch Moreland. The Mariners said they're out.

The Rockies' signing of Ian Desmond also could impact Encarnacion and Trumbo.

Could Encarnacion become next spring's version of Nelson Cruz and perhaps drop to the Orioles on an extremely team-friendly deal?

"I really like your thinking," Duquette said, "but I don't know how realistic that is in the market. I mean, Encarnacion is the RBI king in the American League. He's got a lot of friends up north."

Duquette praised the bullpen again and noted how other teams are trying to build similar ones. A bullpen that's "returning, by the way, with Zach Britton anchoring it."

It's your latest reminder that Britton isn't going to be traded. More on that later.

Duquette also singled out "two really good pitchers in Mychal Givens and Brad Brach," along with a "solid veteran" in Darren O'Day and a "nice lefty" in Donnie Hart. But let's back up to Brach, the subject of trade rumors at the Winter Meetings.

The Mets inquired about him. The Braves were engaged in discussions involving him. And those are just two of the reports.

Is Brach definitely going to be an Oriole in 2017?

"I like Brad Brach on the team," Duquette replied. "He has gotten a lot of interest, which he should. I mean, the kid had a great year. He made the All-Star team, he's got three good pitches, he pitched effectively in the playoffs against the Blue Jays. He's had two really good years actually for the ballclub, but there's a lot of interest.

"You see the value clubs are putting on their bullpens, how Cleveland used their bullpen effectively in the playoffs, how the Cubs went all the way with an outstanding closer in (Aroldis) Chapman. And then you see the money (Mark) Melancon's getting, the market for (Kenley) Jansen, along with Chapman, so these guys are in demand and they're getting paid good money."

The Orioles must continue to dangle Brach in an attempt to land an outfielder - Duquette actually would like to find two of them - but his value and the possibility that he could close in the future with Britton a free agent after 2018 brings a certain level of discomfort.

Britton is off the table despite the hefty return in a trade. Is this a tough call for Duquette?

"It's pretty easy. I love to see the guy pitch," he replied.

"I mean, he's the best pitcher in the league. He perfected the sinker and he's with the O's. I like him with the O's. I think he gives our team a lot of confidence, and having a good closer is like having a cleanup hitter. He makes everybody better around him and that's what Zach Britton has done for our ballclub."

Meanwhile, the Orioles might make hires later this month that would return two individuals to the organization. The speculation could become a reality.

Butch Davis and Buck Britton could fill roles in the minor league system that currently are undefined.

Davis held a variety of jobs with the Orioles from 1997-2014, including minor league manager, hitting coach and roving outfield and bunting instructor. He also appeared in 18 games for the Orioles during the 1988-1989 seasons.

Davis served as the Twins first base coach for the past two seasons.

Britton, 30, was a utility player in the Orioles' system from 2008-2014. He spent the last two years in the Dodgers and Twins organizations and batted .270/.326/.395 in nine minor league seasons.

You probably know Britton's younger brother ...

Changes are coming in the lower levels of the Orioles' system that could be tied to Davis and Britton. Luis Pujols isn't returning as manager of short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Erik Pappas isn't returning as hitting coach at Single-A Frederick. Gulf Coast League manager Orlando Gomez is retiring.