Is Pearce poised to become prized free agent?

Throughout the Winter Meetings and the days that followed, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette stated that the club was more likely to sign a free agent than make a trade. The Orioles reached agreement with left-hander Wesley Wright and outfielder Delmon Young on one-year deals, taking two free agents off the market, but their next move could come via trade. How else are they going to get that left-handed outfielder/designated hitter unless their interest in Nori Aoki intensifies? The Orioles have been talking to the Padres about Seth Smith and Will Venable. Smith has two years and $12.750 million left on his contract, which includes a $7 million team option for 2017 with a $200,000 buyout. Venable will make $4.25 million next season before becoming a free agent, so he's a potential rental. The roster already includes two other left-handed hitting outfielders, Alejandro De Aza and David Lough, and Henry Urrutia will get a chance to make the club out of spring training. The Orioles must decide whether Young is a suitable right-handed hitting outfielder or primarily a designated hitter, and whether they need to make another move. They were concerned enough about their defense in left field this season that they traded for De Aza. Steve Pearce remains the most viable option in right field. It's his position to lose at the moment. Pearce, Young, De Aza and Wright are four of the Orioles' 10 pending free agents following the 2015 season. It's never too early to look ahead. They're joined by pitchers Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, Tommy Hunter and Ryan Webb, catcher Matt Wieters and first baseman Chris Davis. You may have heard of them. Pearce jacked up his value this summer by setting career highs in games (102), plate appearances (383), runs (51), hits (99), doubles (26), home runs (21), RBIs (49), slugging percentage (.556), OPS (.930), walks (40) and stolen bases (five). Pretty good for a guy who was earning $700,000 and got released on April 25. Three Orioles had 20-double, 20-home run seasons in 2014 - Pearce, Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones. Pretty good company. Pearce batted .327/.405/.704 in 111 plate appearances against left-handers. He hit .329/.416/.600 with 12 home runs in 51 games at Camden Yards, and .319/.390/.569 with 28 RBIs in 82 plate appearances with runners in scoring position. A repeat performance or better could make Pearce a hot commodity on the free agent market, especially with his ability to play the outfield and first base. He's also going to take ground balls at third base in spring training. Maybe it's dangerous for the Orioles to rely so heavily next season on a player who posted career highs across the board. Or maybe they're just ahead of the curve, so to speak. This much is certain: Pearce could be in line for another big raise if he builds on his 2014 season.