Notes on arbitration, Davis and spring training

The Orioles currently have 11 players eligible for arbitration this winter, which could produce another hike in payroll despite a few contracts coming off the books. MLBTradeRumors.com provided salary projections in the latest installment in its series. It includes service times for each player: Jim Johnson (5.165): $10.8MM Chris Davis (4.061): $10MM Matt Wieters (4.129): $7.9MM Bud Norris (4.068): $5MM Tommy Hunter (4.066): $3.1MM Brian Matusz (3.156): $2.1MM Nolan Reimold (4.004): $1.2MM Troy Patton (3.150): $1.2MM Steve Pearce (4.116): $1.1MM Chris Dickerson (3.133): $700K Dan Johnson (3.168): Contract includes $800K club option for 2014. If declined, MLBTR's projected arbitration salary is equal to the league minimum $500K. Reimold, Pearce, Dickerson and Dan Johnson are non-tender candidates. Reimold is recovering from another surgery on his neck and may have to settle for a minor league deal with a spring training invitation. The Orioles would like to keep him in the organization. Pearce is an interesting case. He's bounced around and been outrighted, but manager Buck Showalter likes having his bat available. He just needs to stay healthy, which has been a challenge. Dickerson and Dan Johnson are the most likely non-tenders in the group. Davis made $3.3 million this season. He's due a significant jump in salary after leading the majors with 53 homers and 138 RBIs. Jim Johnson made $6.5 million while leading the majors with 50 saves, giving him 101 in the last two seasons. Executive vice president Dan Duquette told reporters last month that Johnson would be offered a contract and remain the closer despite nine blown saves in 2013. Wieters' salary increased from $500,000 in 2012 to $5.5 million this season, and MLBTradeRumors projects that he'll get a $2.4 million bump this winter. Chris Tillman barely missed qualifying for arbitration as a Super Two. Davis finished second to Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera in voting for The Sporting News' MLB Player of the Year. It wasn't close. Cabrera received 141 votes, followed by Davis with 35, the Angels' Mike Trout with nine, the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw and the Pirates' Andrew McCutchen with eight, and the Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt with three. Cabrera has won the award in back-to-back years. I mentioned last week that Orioles pitchers and catchers will report to spring training on Feb. 13. Position players will report on Feb. 18, with the first full-squad workout on Feb. 19. Plan accordingly. Here's another look at the spring training schedule.