More on Orioles arbitration and minor league staff

Considering that the Orioles began the offseason with 11 players who were eligible for arbitration, they should view it as a victory that they've shaved the list to two.

Only Zach Britton and Alejandro De Aza remain unsigned as spring training approaches. Everyone gets a raise, which is sort of like every kid getting a trophy.

The Orioles' payroll has increased again this year despite the absence of a big-ticket item in their free agent shopping cart.

Reliever Tommy Hunter got the ball rolling on Jan. 12 by settling at $4.65 million after making $3 million last season. The news broke during the first day of minicamp in Sarasota, which gave Hunter something else to talk about at his locker.

Left-hander Brian Matusz settled at $3.2 million after making $2.4 million last season. Catcher Matt Wieters settled at $8.275 million after making $7.7 million last season. First baseman Chris Davis settled at $12 million after making $10.3 million last season. Pitcher Chris Tillman settled at $4.315 million after making $546,000 last season.

This was on the day that salary figures were exchanged on Jan. 16

Infielder Ryan Flaherty settled at $1.075 million after making $513,000 last season. Pitcher Bud Norris settled at $8.8 million after making $5.3 last season. Outfielder/first baseman Steve Pearce settled at $3.7 million after making $850,000 last season. Pitcher Miguel Gonzalez settled at $3.275 million after making $529,000 last season.

Britton seemed more likely to end up in a hearing than De Aza, considering the $2 million gap between his figure and the one submitted by the Orioles. However, the sides remain optimistic that a deal will be reached.

That's not the case with De Aza, who submitted $5.65 million while the Orioles countered at $5 million. There's been only limited dialogue between the sides, according to a source, and nothing this week. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 20.

The Orioles have lost only once since Peter G. Angelos bought the team in 1993, and general counsel H. Russell Smouse is 7-0. Pitcher Ben McDonald was victorious in 1995 and received $4.5 million instead of the Orioles' offer of $3.2 million.

The hearing took place in June that year instead of spring training. McDonald attended the hearing in the morning and lost to Randy Johnson later that night.

What a rotten arrangement. Who came up with that one?

Besides signing Britton and De Aza, the Orioles must complete their list of spring training invites and release the full camp roster to the media. They also need to pass along the minor league staffs, which normally is done earlier in the winter.

The holdup was getting final approval on a hitting coach, but the Orioles are on the verge of hiring one.

I've heard that Keith Bodie has emerged as a strong candidate to get the job at Double-A Bowie. He would replace Butch Davis, who was hired as first base coach in Minnesota.

The deal isn't finalized, but it could become official this week.

Paco Figueroa would move up from low Single-A Delmarva to high Single-A Frederick. Howie Clark has been hired as field coach with the Shorebirds.

The field coach is the hitting coach, in case there's any confusion.

The Orioles were prepared to assign Figueroa to Bowie before Bodie entered the picture.

Bodie, who turns 59 this month, spent the past three seasons as manager at Double-A Corpus Christi in the Astros organization. He was fired in September due to philosophical differences.

Corpus Christi went 81-59 in 2012 and 83-57 in 2013.

I wrote earlier that Sean Berry was hired as Denny Walling's replacement at Triple-A Norfolk. Berry had been the Padres minor league hitting coordinator and previously served as the Astros hitting coach.

Berry played for the Expos while Dan Duquette was their general manager.

The Orioles hired Kevin Bradshaw as minor league infield coordinator, another move that will be announced at a later date.