News and notes on qualifying offers and lots more

There were no surprises yesterday in the Orioles' qualifying offers unless you took a really deep nap and missed the reports. And by deep, I mean waking up with a full beard and two upgrades on your iPhone.

Chris Davis and Wei-Yin Chen were slam dunks to receive the offers, and Matt Wieters joined them in the days leading up to the deadline. Yesterday's announcement was a mere formality.

At the very least, the Orioles will be able to stockpile draft picks. But they haven't abandoned hope of re-signing the trio.

Just don't bet the rent on it.

The Mets will make a run at outfielder Gerardo Parra, who wasn't eligible for the qualifying offer because he was traded during the season. They also like reliever Darren O'Day, but aren't expected to getting into heavy bidding.

MLB Network Radio polled its talent on where various free agents will sign over the winter. Jeff Joyce, Steve Sax, Jim Duquette and Mike Ferrin predicted that Davis will stay with the Orioles. Other teams mentioned included the Astros, Mariners and Angels.

Mike Stanton and C.J. Nitkowski predicted that the Orioles will sign outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Mel Antonen, part of the MASN team, thinks the Orioles will sign right-hander Johnny Cueto. Steve Phillips thinks the Orioles will sign outfielder Alex Gordon. Todd Hollandsworth guessed that the Orioles will sign outfielder Justin Upton.

CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman estimated yesterday that Davis will receive a seven-year deal worth $182 million. Can you see the Orioles going that high?

The Nationals didn't make a qualifying offer to pitcher Doug Fister. Teams can sign him without surrendering a first-round pick.

I'm sure the Orioles have discussed Fister in their organizational meetings. A more affordable rotation piece coming off a down year who was 16-6 with a 2.41 ERA in 25 starts in 2014 and owns a career 3.42 ERA in seven major league seasons. Go for it.

The Astros made a qualifying offer to outfielder Colby Rasmus, who rejected the Orioles last winter. Now he's going to cost a first-round pick in addition to the expected raise from the $8 million he earned this season.

The Orioles were willing to give Rasmus $7 million for 2015. Nothing beyond it. My guess is the Rasmus ship has sailed.

The Nexen Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization accepted a $12.85 million bid from an unidentified team to negotiate a major league deal with first baseman Byung-ho Park. The Orioles have scouted him numerous times over the last few years, but it's difficult to envision them going to that extreme.

Left-hander Chris Jones made it onto the 40-man roster in large part because of his performance for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. Jones is 2-1 with a 1.72 ERA in three games, with three runs and 12 hits allowed in 15 2/3 innings. He's walked three and struck out nine.

This doesn't guarantee Jones a spot on the 40-man going into spring training, but he's now in a better position after the Orioles declined to include him on their expanded September roster. The reviews on him are mixed within the organization, but he's left-handed and deserving of a shot after posting a 2.94 ERA in 30 games (22 starts) with Triple-A Norfolk.

Jones comes and goes and returns. The Orioles designated him for assignment after signing outfielder Nelson Cruz as a free agent, released him and re-signed him to a minor league deal. They re-signed him in November 2014 and put him on the 40-man roster a year later.

Does everyone remember that the Orioles acquired Jones from the Braves in April 2013 for veteran reliever Luis Ayala?

Dylan Bundy allowed one run and two hits yesterday in his second start in the Arizona Fall League, but the second single was a blooper in right-center field. He threw 14 of his 19 pitches for strikes and used his fastball, slider, curveball and changeup.

A run may not seem like progress after his 1-2-3 inning on Monday, but using all of his pitches and being extended to 19 was a positive development. He's still topping out at 94 mph, which is fine in his second outing.

One official said Bundy needs to be quicker to the plate from the stretch. He didn't give catcher Chance Sisco much of a chance on Charlie Tilson's stolen base.

Left-hander Tanner Scott's fastball was 97-99 in a scoreless seventh inning, but he walked the first two batters and threw only 17 of his 28 pitches for strikes. He struck out two batters, the first on an 88 mph slider, as he gradually did a better job of finding the plate.

Scott's fastball has been clocked at 101 mph, a pretty solid reason why the Orioles are intrigued by him and why he's climbing their prospect list. But it's clear that he's a work in progress.

Former Orioles prospect Josh Hader, traded to the Astros in the Bud Norris deal, allowed one hit in three scoreless innings for Surprise. Hader, now in the Brewers organization, walked none and struck out four.

The Old Mill High graduate has allowed one run and four hits in 10 innings over five appearances in the AFL. He's walked four and struck out 15.

I'm not saying another word. Except that ...

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