Duquette talks up the farm; Harold Reynolds talks up Dan and Buck

While some publications have ranked the Orioles' minor league system among the worst in baseball, try running that line by someone in the team's scouting or player development departments. Or try running that by the man at the top of that food chain, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette.

Some people - including some young players who also should not be overlooked - have put in time and effort to get better, and they feel the O's farm is better than some analysts believe.

They point to players like Ryan Mountcastle, who had such a strong year in the Gulf Coast League, or Tanner Scott, who was named yesterday to the Top Prospects team by the Arizona Fall League.

But when the O's farm lost some players through trades (Eduardo Rodriguez, Zach Davies, Josh Hader), some got hurt (Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey) and some graduated to the majors and lost their prospect status (Kevin Gausman, Jonathan Schoop), the system took a rankings hit.

It was bound to happen. In fact I wrote about this eventuality as far back as October 2014 after the American League Championship Series.

But O's executive vice president Dan Duquette doesn't miss a chance to let people know some out there do like players in the O's organization. Duquette said recent trade talks provided an example.

"I'm very encouraged by the players that we have been asked for in return in a trade," he said. "We have a little bit more depth to our farm system than we previously knew about based upon our interaction with other clubs and their requests. They like some of our young pitching. Of course, we are going to need that young pitching. But it's good to know we have it there available for trade if required."

Duquette also mentioned Monday afternoon that some free agents are pursuing the Orioles. Usually, we see that as a one-way street with teams seeking players. Sometimes it's a two-way street.

"A lot of times, it is about the opportunity and the job availability," Duquette said. "In Baltimore, we've have a good opportunity. But we've also been able to create a culture where it is fun to play. Guys like playing for a winning team and they like playing for Buck (Showalter). They like the standards for the defense. The pitchers like to throw with a good defensive team behind them. Players want to be in the hunt, the pennant race. We can provide all those things in the Orioles organization, so that is encouraging."

Duquette's name came up yesterday morning when I interviewed MLB Network analyst and former Oriole Harold Reynolds. He feels with Duquette and Showalter, the Orioles have a strong one-two punch running their organization.

"You know, it's the most important relationship, I think, in all of sports," Reynolds said. "The general manager and the field manager. They get along great it seems like and they've done a nice job, with not much to work with.

"To me, that's the sign of a good organization. It is easy to go out and buy players if you have the money to do it. It's another thing to say, all right, we have to get creative and be competitive with these big money teams.

"You look at the Yankees and Red Sox every year spending money and you have to compete with them. That's why I respect Tampa and Baltimore and those guys so much. It is not even having to deal with the American League West or American League Central. You're dealing with the East. So that is a very difficult division to be competitive in and they've done a good job."

The Darren O'Day deal was finalized last night and this time nothing should change that. The Orioles bullpen remains one of the best in the American League. Unlike last year, when the O's lost leadership in addition to talent when Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis left the club, the O's brought back one of their best clubhouse leaders in O'Day.

Last year, opposing hitters went 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts against O'Day with the bases loaded. Lefty batters hit .210 with a .627 OPS versus O'Day and right-handed batters hit .192 with a .493 OPS.

In retaining O'Day, the Orioles kept a strength strong. Now we wait to see what happens with Chris Davis, their starting rotation and their outfield. This was just the continuation of a solid start to an offseason that still should have much more to come.