Orioles remain open to signing a starting pitcher

SARASOTA, Fla. - Agreeing to terms with slugger Pedro Álvarez on a minor league deal is the latest move made by the Orioles since they arrived at spring training. Toss him into the same sack as pitchers Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman and outfielders Alex Presley and Colby Rasmus.

Corban Joseph and Sharlon Schoop get their own container over at Twin Lakes Park.

The Orioles aren't done attempting to upgrade their roster, with a source confirming yesterday that they remain in contact with the agents for pitchers Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn and Jake Arrieta. They're not sitting back and saying they have no interest.

Stay within striking distance. That's been the mindset.

The club moved on from the trio and intensified its pursuit of Cashner and left-hander Jason Vargas after early indications that the years and money wouldn't work. However, three of the top four starters on the market - minus Yu Darvish - remain unsigned and the Orioles are monitoring it.

Will agents continue to react to the market, which was frozen solid before, finally, a gradual thaw? The Orioles are hopeful if they're going to make a bold move and sign another starter.

There's a sense within the industry that all three pitchers are coming down from their initial contractual goals, though one person told me yesterday that Arrieta's is "still high." And while the ideal scenario for the Orioles is a deal below three years, they aren't refusing to guarantee that amount, according to a source.

The Orioles thought at one point that they'd get both Cashner and Vargas before the left-hander received a two-year, $16 million contract from the Mets that included an option for 2020. They re-signed Tillman for $3 million guaranteed with $7 million possible in incentives and bonuses, and they haven't closed shop.

That's also true beyond pitching.

As I've written, they really liked Ryan Goins, who lost patience and took a minor league deal with the Royals, and they tried to put together a late proposal for Ryan Flaherty before he signed a minor league deal with the Phillies. They aren't satisfied that their utility infielder on opening day resides on their camp roster.

Erick Salcedo may be gaining ground, since he's made some nice plays in the field and he singled off the left field wall yesterday in his only at-bat to go 2-for-4 this spring. Luis Sardiñas committed a fielding error yesterday after moving from shortstop to second base, and every bobble seems to be magnified.

Flaherty has an opt-out in late March and the Orioles still like him. They could turn to Adam Rosales if he loses the utility battle to Flaherty over in Clearwater.

An issue all along has centered on how much the Orioles want to spend on a player who may not be on the field for many innings and many games, though a major league deal was possible for Goins. They were debating Goins versus Flaherty, the latter on a minor league contract. No proposals were rejected by ownership.

The minor league deal for Álvarez brought the predicable Twitter cries of "starting printing those playoff tickets" and "start printing those World Series tickets" and "why?" and "seriously why?"

I've decided to respond while keeping the Twitter theme alive and passing along this one from @Gdubs24:

"It's a minor league deal for a guy who hit 22 homers in 337 ABs last time he was given a shot with the O's...chill people"

Thank you.

It's another insurance move in case Mark Trumbo is injured and the Orioles want a power bat to platoon at designated hitter. He isn't projected to break camp with the team. And the $1 million guaranteed to Álvarez if he returns to the majors won't prevent the club from making additional moves.

There's been some confusion regarding the incentives, but I've heard from multiple people in the organization that Álvarez can earn another $3 million if he maxes out in plate appearances to bring the total value to $4 million. He definitely gets $1 million by making the roster.

Anyway, the only surprise for me is how Álvarez agreed to terms before March. Manager Buck Showalter has been impressed by him, the club's searching for left-handed bats and, again, it's a minor league deal. He won't block anyone at Norfolk.