More on qualifying offers, BBWAA awards and Rawlings Gold Gloves

The Orioles have taken care of the obvious pieces of business over the past few days, picking up the options on pitchers Wei-Yin Chen and Darren O'Day, declining the options on right fielder Nick Markakis and catcher Nick Hundley, making a qualifying offer to outfielder Nelson Cruz, and reinstating catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado from the 60-day disabled list.

The only drama centered on when the club would send out the tweets and press releases.

Twenty-two players were given qualifying offers over the past two seasons and none of them accepted. The list included Cruz after he declined with the Rangers and eventually settled for a one-year, $8 million contract with the Orioles.

Twelve free agents were given the $15.3 million qualifying offers yesterday: Cruz, Max Scherzer, Victor Martinez, Hanley Ramirez, James Shields, Ervin Santana, David Robertson, Pablo Sandoval, Russell Martin, Francisco Liriano, Melky Cabrera and Michael Cuddyer.

If Cuddyer turns it down, he should be administered smelling salts and checked for a concussion.

Perhaps the market for Cruz will be adjusted with the draft pick compensation, but not to last winter's extreme. He won't be forced to settle for another one-year deal. I don't think he's getting five years, which he's seeking, but he's going to land a multi-year contract.

Meanwhile, the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) will reveal the top three finalists in the American League and National League for the 2014 Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards tonight at 6 p.m. on MLB Network.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is certain to be included in the top three and I believe that he's going to win it for the third time. The only drama tonight centers on the other two finalists.

Don't forget that ballots were submitted before the playoffs.

The winners will be announced as follows:

Nov. 10: AL and NL Rookie of the Year Award
Nov. 11: AL and NL Manager of the Year Award
Nov. 12: AL and NL Cy Young Award
Nov. 13: AL and NL Most Valuable Player Award

Also, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners will be announced tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Let's hope the programs don't overlap.

Here are the finalists in the American League:

Pitchers
Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays
Felix Hernandez, Mariners
Dallas Keuchel, Astros

Catchers
Alex Avila, Tigers
Yan Gomes, Indians
Salvador Perez, Royals

First base
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
Eric Hosmer, Royals
Albert Pujols, Angels

Second base
Robinson Cano, Mariners
Ian Kinsler, Tigers
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox

Shortstop
Alcides Escobar, Royals
J.J. Hardy, Orioles
Alexei Ramirez, White Sox

Third base
Adrian Beltre, Rangers
Josh Donaldson, Athletics
Kyle Seager, Mariners

Left field
Michael Brantley, Indians
Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics/Red Sox
Alex Gordon, Royals

Center field
Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox
Adam Eaton, White Sox
Adam Jones, Orioles

Right field
Kole Calhoun, Angels
Kevin Kiermaier, Rays
Nick Markakis, Orioles

The selection process is approximately 75 percent votes submitted by managers and coaches - up to seven total votes per team - and 25 percent from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).

Managers and coaches only cast votes in their own league and couldn't vote for players on their own team.

I'm predicting that Hardy, Jones and Markakis are victorious tonight.

Hardy won the award the past two seasons. Jones won it in 2009, 2012 and 2013. Markakis, who's going against two first-timers, won it in 2011.

Jones has a chance to tie for the third-most Gold Gloves in Orioles history. Third baseman Brooks Robinson won 16, center fielder Paul Blair and shortstop Mark Belanger each won eight, and pitchers Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina and second baseman Bobby Grich each won four.

The Orioles have won 67 Gold Gloves, the most by any American League team. Only the Cardinals (84) have won more.