Remembering how the Orioles landed a shortstop in 2010

The Orioles aren't expected to be nearly as busy retooling the roster this week, which has been advertised as some sort of virtual Winter Meetings, as they were in 2010.

Still a tough act to follow.

They're in a different place, and I don't just mean home compared to Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

They needed a shortstop, as they do now, and traded for J.J. Hardy after almost finalizing a deal for Jason Bartlett - one of the best decisions in franchise history. They also were linked to Cardinals all-field, no-hit shortstop Brendan Ryan, who eventually was shipped to the Mariners.

Bartlett was traded to the Padres, where he spent parts of the next two seasons and batted .231/.299/.292. The rest of his major league career consisted of three games with the Twins in 2014.

Hardy won three Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger Award with the Orioles and became the leader of their infield. He hit 77 home runs from 2011-13.

He was much better than Bartlett.

A nice return for minor league pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. And the Twins also handed over infielder Brendan Harris.

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail often was asked whether he used a gun during negotiations with the Twins.

The Orioles and Rays discussed a Bartlett-for-Nolan Reimold trade that dissolved after Brady Anderson provided a glowing report on the outfielder, who was recovering from Achilles tendon surgery. They worked out daily at UC Irvine and Anderson passed along his recommendation to MacPhail.

"I can tell you that he's strong and he's healthy," Anderson told me in a phone conversation shortly after I returned home. "He sprinted at 100 percent and the Achilles isn't bothering him. He's motivated to do well. And the compelling thing is, it's pretty well known that the Rays have a well-rounded organization and great scouting, and the fact that they want him should tell you a lot."

Anderson said he didn't know about the trade talks until Reimold informed him.

Some of the best deals are the ones that aren't made.

The Orioles are in a similar predicament with José Iglesias traded last week and executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias searching for a replacement. He just can't set up meetings in his hotel suite.

However, Elias could be more inclined to sign a free agent shortstop to a short-term deal rather than entertain trade offers and relinquish young pitching.

Hardy turned into a long-term solution. There weren't any prospects pushing him aside and the Orioles gave him three-year extensions in 2011 and 2014.

Elias isn't looking to make that kind of commitment. Just find a plus defender to handle the position while the organization keeps developing the young middle infielders in their system.

Trivia: Who was the starting shortstop in 2010 prior to Hardy's arrival? No cheating. Answer below.

The 2010 Winter Meetings activity began three days earlier with the acquisition of third baseman Mark Reynolds from the Diamondbacks for pitchers David Hernández and Kam Mickolio - the latter forever remembered in Baltimore as being a tall guy who was a small part of the Erik Bedard trade.

Trivia: Which player to be named later did the Orioles obtain along with Reynolds? Answer below.

The Orioles weren't done after getting Reynolds and Hardy. They agreed to terms with reliever Koji Uehara on a one-year contract for $3 million - the news breaking just as I packed up my laptop and returned to my hotel room.

My timing has always been exceptional.

The month ended with MacPhail signing free-agent reliever Jeremy Accardo and first baseman Derrek Lee to one-year deals.

They can't all be winners.

Elias isn't likely to make that many moves this month. It was a rare occasion when the Orioles became one of the most active teams at the meetings, to the surprise of many people in the industry, and shortly after returning home.

Answer I: César Izturis appeared in 150 games at shortstop in 2010.

Answer II: Catcher John Hester was the PTBNL from the Diamondbacks.

Note: Outfiielder Dwight Smith Jr. announced on his social media accounts that he signed with the Reds.

Smith was a minor league free agent.