Talking clubhouse chemistry and more with ESPN's Aaron Boone

SAN DIEGO - Among the many former big league players here at the Winter Meetings that is now a broadcaster is Aaron Boone. He is part of a three-generation major league family and he hit a famous playoff home run in 2003. Now Boone is an analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Baseball with frequent appearances on Baseball Tonight and other studio programming. He joined ESPN in 2010 after a 12-year big league career. Boone knows something about clubhouse chemistry and he feels it is important when a team like the Orioles looks to sign or acquire a player. "I think it's a big part of the pie frankly," Boone said. "You have 162 games in 180 days; you know, with spring training, 200 games together. I think it's important that there is harmony in there. It doesn't always have to be friendly, it doesn't always have to be 'Kumbaya,' we all get along, we're all buddies. "But I think, there has to be something in that room that creates an asset for the team. The Orioles, most teams that win and go to the playoffs, the clubhouse is usually an asset. I think it is an important part of the equation and the evaluation process." The Orioles won the American League East by 12 games, but Boone said that gap has closed with recent acquisitions by the O's division rivals. "Well, at this point in the winter and the way it looks like it's going, absolutely," Boone said. "Boston, you know depending what happens with (Jon) Lester here in the next 24 hours and the moves that they've made, they are positioned to make a huge leap. "The Yankees look like they've shored up some things and the Blue Jays have added two impact players. It will be interested to see if and what the Orioles can do to better their team from last year." Per usual, the Orioles have to keep up with Boston and New York without spending as those teams can and do. "That is the challenge, being in a division with teams with big-time money," Boone said. "But we've seen the last few years that the Orioles have as talented a roster as anyone. They are trying to manage that while retooling on the go. "I think it's important that Chris Davis bounce back this year. Matt Wieters, in his last season before free agency, that he comes back and has a big impact year. And guys like Steve Pearce continue to do what they showed they can do last year. If those things happen, the Orioles can be relevant if they can add the right little pieces to complement their impact players." The Boone family has produced three generations of major league talent - former All-Star third baseman Ray Boone (Aaron's grandfather), former All-Star catcher, manager and baseball executive Bob Boone (Aaron's father) and retired All-Star second baseman Bret Boone (Aaron's brother). In 2003, Aaron Boone earned his first and only All-Star appearance before being traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Yankees. Later that year, he famously hit a dramatic, series-clinching home run in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, giving the Yankees a 6-5 victory over the rival Boston Red Sox. "Amazing how many people have a small little story attached to that. To get to be on that stage and have a small part in that rivalry, a lot of fun," he said.