MVP results and hot stove nuggets

The Orioles were represented in the Most Valuable Player voting in the American League despite not having a finalist.

Third baseman Manny Machado finished in fifth place and closer Zach Britton was 11th, with the Baseball Writers' Association of America releasing the results tonight on MLB Network.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout placed first with 356 points, followed by Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts with 311 and Astros second baseman Jose Altuve with 227. Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson was fourth with 200 and Machado was fifth with 150.

Britton, a fourth-place finisher in the Cy Young voting, had 11 points on the MVP ballot.

Machado received five fourth-place votes, seven fifth-place votes, nine sixth-place votes, four seventh-place votes, three eighth-place votes, one ninth-place vote and one 10th-place vote. Britton received one eighth-place vote, three ninth-place votes and two 10th-place votes.

Trout has finished second, second, first, second and first in the past five seasons. Altuve finished 13th in 2014 and 10th in 2015.

Machado finished ninth in 2013 and fourth last year. He batted .294/.343/.533 this season, with 40 doubles, a triple, 37 home runs and 96 RBIs in 157 games.

The average, slugging percentage, OPS, home runs, RBIs and 105 runs were career highs.

Betts was a season-long nuisance to the Orioles. He batted .408/.477/.816 with four doubles, nine home runs, 21 RBIs and 10 walks against them, and was 19-for-37 (.514) with eight home runs, 15 RBIs and nine walks in 10 games at Camden Yards.

Trout went 7-for-23 (.304) in six games against the Orioles and 4-for-11 in three games at Camden Yards.

Altuve went 7-for-18 with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs in four games at Camden Yards.

* Executive vice president Dan Duquette joined us for 30 minutes tonight on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan.

Duquette repeated that the Orioles could use a right fielder, designated hitter, a veteran catcher and perhaps a right-handed bat to platoon with Hyun Soo Kim in left field. Duquette used the term "bridge catcher" as the Orioles wait for Chance Sisco to be ready.

Duquette mentioned that Sisco has made significant strides defensively, but needs to improve his release times. He also noted that a lot of teams are in the catching market.

Trey Mancini appears to have a legitimate shot at breaking camp with the team next spring. Duquette said Mancini could be a capable replacement if Mark Trumbo signs with another team - obviously in the DH role and not in right field. Duquette added that Mancini doesn't appear to need additional time in the minors.

Duquette spoke with agent Casey Close during the general managers meetings in Arizona and indicated that no bridges were burned after the Dexter Fowler debacle last spring. He complimented Close on multiple occasions after Fowler walked away from the Orioles' three-year, $33 million offer and signed a one-year deal with the Cubs.

"You've got to hand it to him," Duquette said of Close, "I think he made the right call with his client."

Duquette confirmed what I've written about the five candidates interviewed for pitching coach or bullpen coach - Alan Mills, Roger McDowell, Frank Viola, Tim Leveque and Danny Clark. A decision on pitching coach could be made later this week, with bullpen coach to follow.

Also, Duquette warned that we may not see any "splashy" acquisitions this winter, but he expects to fill holes, improve depth and make another run at the playoffs. And he still has no interest in trading Britton.

* The Astros acquired catcher Brian McCann from the Yankees for pitching prospects Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman.

Matt Wieters' market just shrunk by one team. Same for Jason Castro, the former Astros catcher who's definitely on the Orioles' radar.

The Astros also reportedly agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with outfielder Josh Reddick. The Orioles liked him as a possible replacement for Trumbo in right field.