The official first day of the Winter Meetings

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter knows what's coming this week.

It's not only the long days and nights in executive vice president Dan Duquette's suite at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, the meetings with agents and officials, the various obligations and inconveniences. It's also the lasting impression that the Orioles can't compete next season, that they're due to crash to the bottom of the American League East standings despite making the playoffs three of the past five years.

The Orioles never are the popular pick and they never seem to care about it.

"We don't sneak up on anybody anymore," Showalter said last week on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "They're going to pick us last again next year and that's OK. The group that does doesn't learn their lesson and that's fine.

"I'm going to go to D.C. for the winter meetings and they're going to be asking me to apologize for our season or for the last five years and I just chuckle and go, 'You guys don't get it again.' So we'll be there competing with you and we'll beat the people we're supposed to beat."

Showalter is done revisiting the 2016 season, which ended with the wild card loss to the Blue Jays.

"I'm looking past it," he said. "It's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world. And the level our organization and our players and our fans have chosen to be a part of is something we want to maintain.

"I'm so proud and respectful of people who can win when they're expected to win and have a consistent winning. It doesn't happen by accident. It starts with the players. Baltimore is a winning city and we want to be able to maintain it.

"It's tough, it's tough. You've got the 29 best organizations that the world has to offer and you've got to stay on top of it. It's a challenge. There are things going on every day and we're trying to stay on top of them. We're headed over to D.C. and we've got some work to do over there."

You know the list, which includes a left-handed bat, a right fielder, a veteran catcher, pitching depth and maybe a right-handed bat to platoon with Hyun Soo Kim in left field. Duquette has downplayed the need for a designated hitter, citing Trey Mancini's ability to handle the role, but the Orioles remain open to re-signing Pedro Alvarez and have made multiple offers to Mark Trumbo.

Alvarez reportedly has drawn interest from the Red Sox, while Trumbo could settle in Colorado. The Orioles are watching how the markets develop, especially with Trumbo, who wouldn't have a draft pick attached to him if he took a one-year deal and re-entered the market. The new labor agreement prohibits a player from receiving two qualifying offers.

I'm not sure why Trumbo would settle for a one-year deal after leading the majors in home runs unless the market completely dries up. It doesn't seem likely to happen.

So far, the most common questions aimed at me by other media outlets involve the Orioles' intentions for right field and designated hitter. Trumbo, of course, is tied to both of them.

They really want to upgrade their outfield defense, though Kim is expected to remain the starter in left field against right-handed pitching. Showalter must decide whether to let Kim face more left-handers. Joey Rickard could work into a platoon or simply make the club as a backup at all three positions.

Duquette indicated again yesterday that he's focused on right field, but he said later that he'd like to add "a couple of outfielders." Maybe this is still referencing someone to pair with Kim.

The Orioles really are intent on getting a veteran catcher, with Welington Castillo and Nick Hundley among the players on their radar. They seem most interested in Castillo and may have initiated trade talks with the Diamondbacks if he hadn't been non-tendered.

They also had some interest in Derek Norris before the Nationals acquired him from the Padres, which seems to indicate that they're not real optimistic about re-signing Matt Wieters.

There's another market that bears watching, of course.

It's also an indication that they want Chance Sisco to begin next season at Triple-A Norfolk to gain more experience and continue polishing his defensive skills. He turns 22 in February. There's no rush.

The Orioles aren't interested in bringing him to the majors only for his bat. They want him to catch.

"I think Chance Sisco has a chance to be an everyday player at a skill position," Duquette said. "He probably should be playing ball somewhere quite a bit."

If only there was a timetable that the Orioles could reference to determine when Sisco will be ready for the majors.

"There's not," Showalter said. "The biggest jump in professional sports is from the minor leagues to the big leagues in baseball because of the level of pitching you face. The big thing with him is, is he going to be able to put the right fingers down, is he going to be able to get the confidence of the pitching staff and is he going to be able to catch and throw at this level?

"I think Chance is going to hit, but the thing that separates catchers up here is their defensive skills. Caleb (Joseph), for instance."

One of the more surprising contracts I've seen this offseason came from the Brewers, who gave outfielder Eric Thames $16 million over three years and included a $7.5 million option for 2020.

I've heard that the Orioles scouted Thames in the Korean Baseball Organization, but they weren't coming close to that offer. Just too many questions attached to his production outside the U.S.

Thames is a career 250/.296/.431 hitter in 181 games with the Blue Jays and Mariners and he batted .252/.315/.356 in 36 games with Triple-A Norfolk in 2013. But the Brewers fell in love with Thames' .348/.450/.720 slash line, 124 home runs and 379 RBIs over three seasons with the NC Dinos in the KBO.

They're banking on something clicking for Thames rather than him feasting on a lower level of pitching.