Tending to non-tender business

The next important date in Major League Baseball doesn't involve Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez.

Friday marks the deadline for teams to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players or non-tender them, which expands the free agent market.

The Orioles were able to sign catcher Welington Castillo last winter because the Diamondbacks non-tendered him. They would have engaged in trade talks if he hadn't unexpectedly hit the market.

They're going to pay close attention again while continuing their search for pitching and left-handed bats.

There could be interest in Brock Holt if the Red Sox decline to offer him a contract. He has some supporters in the organization and his left-handed bat and ability to play every infield and outfield position suits a team that needs a replacement for Ryan Flaherty.

Would he represent a dynamic signing? Of course not. But he makes sense and maybe the Red Sox's ability to work counts would rub off on his new teammates.

I'd also keep an eye on Astros right-hander Mike Fiers if he's allowed to become a free agent. He'd be a classic bounceback candidate for executive vice president Dan Duquette after going 8-10 with a 5.22 ERA and 1.428 WHIP in 29 games (28 starts).

Checking their own backyard, the Orioles will offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible players rather than go the non-tender route. There are no tough calls here, which is pretty unusual.

Do they relish the idea of paying closer Zach Britton $12.2 million, as projected by MLBTradeRumors.com? Not by a longshot. But the alternative isn't a non-tender. They pony up the cash or trade him.

Britton made $11.4 million last season. He's garnering more interest from other teams while approaching his free agent season and Duquette will listen.

It costs nothing to listen.

The Orioles' other arbitration-eligible players include third baseman Manny Machado, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, starter Kevin Gausman, reliever Brad Brach, shortstop Tim Beckham and catcher Caleb Joseph.

Not a non-tender in the bunch.

MLBTradeRumors.com projected Machado to earn $17.3 million, Schoop $9.1 million, Gausman $6.8 million, Brach $5.2 million, Beckham $3.1 million and Joseph $1.4 million.

The site provided a list this week of possible non-tenders and it included former Orioles left-hander T.J. McFarland. I'm not anticipating a reunion.

The Orioles non-tendered pitcher Vance Worley last year and he probably would have been useful to them despite being out of options. They removed Flaherty and McFarland from the bubble and gave them contracts.

Shameless plug alert: The "Orioles Hot Stove Show" is back on 105.7 The Fan, airing tonight from 6-7 p.m. at its new location at the Orioles Grille inside the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel. Duquette will join Jim Hunter and yours truly.

Submit your most pressing questions and I'll check whether they match up with mine.

Perhaps Duquette can offer a confirmation on last night's report from Jon Morosi of FOX Sports that the Orioles may have started preliminary negotiations with Schoop on an extension.