The latest from the lobby

NASHVILLE - Chris Davis still hasn't made a decision. Continue to breathe normally.

ESPN's Buster Olney confirmed what I tweeted last night about the Orioles' offer being around $150 million. Olney said the deal covers seven years. I was told it's a little more than $20 million per year, which adds up. However, I also heard about deferred money, which complicates it.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette repeated on MLB Network this morning what he told the beat crew over the last few days. The Orioles can't wait around for Davis and they're getting close to moving in other directions.

"We're not quite there yet," he said, "but it's going to be time for the players as well as the teams to choose."

The dance has moved the Orioles' feet toward Justin Upton, a player who also interested them last winter. Upton is a free agent and the Orioles met with his representative, Larry Reynolds, as first reported by CBSSports.com.

I will say again that Upton isn't the left-handed bat that Duquette covets, but he's an impact bat and the Orioles gladly would plug him into right field and the middle of their lineup.

Upton, 28, is a Virginia native, which sort of makes him local. He's also friends with Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, if that matters.

Upton averages 26 home runs over 162 games, and his .352 on-base percentage over nine seasons brings tremendous appeal to a club that routinely settles near the bottom in that category among major league teams.

Also, Upton is a career .273/.380/.506 hitter against left-handers and a .271/.342/.463 hitter versus right-handers. The Orioles can live with those splits, no matter which side of the plate he occupies.

Upton has never faced the Orioles. He's never played at Camden Yards.

He could occupy one of the lockers on opening day.

Meanwhile, we can forget about left-handed hitting Adam Lind. He's now a Mariner.

Lind had platoon player written all over him. He could have shared at-bats with Mark Trumbo, but the Orioles view Trumbo more as an everyday player. I'm fine with those talks ending, if anyone asked for my opinion.

The Orioles also are done with Mitch Moreland, according to FOXSports.com. Also more of a platoon guy, judging by his splits. The Orioles clearly have money to spend and they can find better ways to distribute it if Davis turns them down.

Upton, Alex Gordon, a frontline starting pitcher. You name it.

Yes, the Orioles still want Davis back. No, they're not going to let this process drag much longer.

"It's easy to love Chris Davis," Duquette said on MLB Network. "Chris knows how we feel about him. We tell him every day we love him and we've been doing that for four years."

Unfortunately, even the best relationships come to an end. At least if this one does, the two sides won't argue over who owns which albums.

The Mariners designated Andy Wilkins for assignment to create a spot for Lind. Wilkins had a brief stay with Triple-A Norfolk before the Orioles designated him while trading for L.J. Hoes.

Former Orioles pitcher Zach Clark (UMBC) is here in search of a job. He'd like to work in a front office someday and currently seeks a scouting position. Anything to get his foot in the door.

Add Clark to the list of former Orioles spotted in the lobby.