Orioles primed for more late additions

The Orioles are picked to finish below .500 and in fourth or fifth place in their division in various December predictions. They've already lost the offseason, graded poorly for their inability to improve the roster while holes opened up in right field and at designated hitter. And the rotation doesn't measure up, at least on paper.

Meanwhile, executive vice president Dan Duquette does his best work after the ball drops in Times Square. And the first ball drops during pitchers fielding practice in spring training.

Wei-Yin Chen signed on Jan. 10, 2012, two weeks before Wilson Betemit signed and a month before Jeremy Guthrie was traded to the Rockies for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom. Miguel Gonzalez signed on March 4.

Chris Dickerson signed for the first time on Jan. 29, 2013. Nelson Cruz signed on Feb. 24, 2014, five days after Ubaldo Jimenez. Delmon Young signed on Jan. 9, 2015. Yovani Gallardo signed on Feb. 25, 2016 after the Orioles restructured his contract. Pedro Alvarez signed on March 10, 2016, about two weeks after they thought that they had an agreement with Dexter Fowler.

Everth Cabrera signed on Feb. 25, 2015, and while he lasted only 29 games, it further illustrated how Duquette keeps working on the roster and is liable to make a move at any moment. Examples from 2013 include Jair Jurrjens (Feb. 15) and Freddy Garcia (March 27).

Garcia sweats more than any man alive, but Duquette also can work himself into a lather with all of this activity.

Alvarez could be another late signing this spring, with the Orioles maintaining interest in bringing him back at the right price and depending on other moves that unfold. They like his left-handed bat if the DH slot allows for it, and maybe they'll become curious about his work in the outfield.

Mark Trumbo is still a possibility and no one can gauge how long he'll have to wait to strike a deal. It's been theorized that Edwin Encarnacion coming off the board and perhaps setting the market could accelerate the process. Others theorize that too many power bats remain on the market and could keep Trumbo waiting.

Mike Napoli may be the next one to sign, with the Rangers reportedly intensifying their efforts. They've been viewed as the favorites for a while and are expected to get a deal done.

I never heard anything concrete regarding the Orioles' interest in Napoli - more like speculation that they could make a run at him - but he certainly makes sense as a designated hitter and backup first baseman who also has 11 games of experience in left field and 539 as a catcher. He hasn't been behind the plate since 2012, but you know how manager Buck Showalter likes his emergency guys.

Napoli has been in the playoffs in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. He's like a horseshoe with a beard or a rabbit's foot with a .352 on-base percentage.

He's also a guy who's willing to take a two-year deal, according to reports.

The fear in working the roster in a deliberate manner, and former Orioles executive Andy MacPhail was more tortoise than hare, is that the best players will come off the board and leave the team sifting through scraps. The options for right field are plentiful, if not especially sexy. And a trade remains a possibility with reliever Brad Brach available in the right deal.

I'll predict that the Orioles make at least one move in January and one in February. And I wouldn't be surprised if they do something in March, whatever the magnitude. We're in the dead zone between Christmas and New Year's, but it's nearing an end.

I'll also predict that the Orioles still will be picked near or at the bottom of the division, no matter what they do between now and opening day. The Red Sox look like the obvious favorites and the Blue Jays and Yankees will line up behind them in whatever order.

Meanwhile, the Orioles will revel in the role of underdog, as usual, with their new right fielder and whatever combination at designated hitter. With a rotation they like and a bullpen they love. With a roster that's always subject to change, no matter the date on the calendar.