Orioles will watch Lincecum throw this week

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will be counted among the teams attending Tim Lincecum's showcase later this week.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner will throw Thursday at Driveline Baseball's facility outside Seattle, allowing him to dive into a flooded free agent market.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated earlier today that the Orioles are more likely to sign a couple of veteran pitchers than consummate a trade, though both avenues remain open. The rotation still has three vacancies.

Lincecum, 33, hasn't pitched since making nine starts with the Angels in 2016 and going 2-6 with a 9.16 ERA and 2.374 WHIP over 38 1/3 innings. He won Cy Young Awards with the Giants in 2008 and 2009.

"There will be a good contingent at that showcase, from what I understand," Duquette said while appearing on "MASN All Access." "Tim's been working out at Driveline. He's a big Driveline guy. He's had some great years. Very colorful player. So we'll be keeping an eye on that."

The Orioles also remain in the market for a left-handed hitter, left-handed reliever and perhaps a veteran utility player. They have a handful of candidates in camp for the latter position, but could go outside the organization.

"I don't know if we have that type of player here, but we can take a look at some of the guys we have in camp," Duquette said. "If we don't have that type of player, we can certainly look for that player toward the end of spring training because there will be some utility players that won't make clubs that will be available on the market."

Duquette also indicated that he didn't talk contract extensions while negotiating 2018 deals with pitcher Kevin Gausman and second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who were eligible for arbitration. Gausman signed today to make the Orioles 7-for-7.

There also haven't been extension talks with center fielder Adam Jones, a pending free agent.

Duquette joked that he talked "extensively" with the agents for Gausman and Schoop. Not quite the same as long-term deals.

"These are all issues for the club to consider," he said. "These are good players. They've been core players for us and this is something the club has to consider certainly."

Duquette was encouraged by Zach Britton's recovery from Achilles surgery after seeing the closer move around the complex.

"I was surprised seeing him walk around the training room today. He looked great," Duquette said. "I don't know about the beard, but the walking around, Zach Britton looked good. He looked like he was in good spirits.

"The athletes that are in shape and they're young, and he was training to have a good year, they can come back quickly. And Zach is motivated to come back quickly, so we'll have to see how it goes."

Outfielder Trey Mancini was another early arrival today.