Trying to build a good team and then keep it together

At a time when players come and go - and major league rosters change, sometimes almost daily - the Orioles may now be developing a situation where their roster will feature stability. At least for a few years.

Let's look at the eight players that could be on the field with the pitcher on opening day and include outfielder Dexter Fowler. Except for catcher Matt Wieters, who can be a free agent after 2016, the other seven all will be under team control for at least two more years. Five of those players are going to be with the Orioles, barring a trade, through at least 2018.

Some are signed to long-term contracts, while others are under team control through arbitration and not eligible for free agency for several years. Here is a look at just how many years of team control the O's have with these players:

Through 2017: J.J. Hardy, Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Hyun Soo Kim, Ryan Flaherty, Ubaldo Jimenez and Yovani Gallardo
Through 2018: Adam Jones, Fowler, Zach Britton, Vance Worley, Brad Brach and Manny Machado
Through 2019: Darren O'Day and Jonathan Schoop
Through 2020: Kevin Gausman, Jason Garcia and Caleb Joseph
Through 2021: Mychal Givens
Through 2022: Chris Davis

The Orioles' three, four and five hitters in the lineup could eventually be some combo of Machado, Davis and Jones, and those three have at least three more seasons together starting in 2016. The middle of the order is set for awhile.

The O's infield is set for at least two more years with the right side under team control for at least four more seasons. Five pitchers in the rotation (Tillman, Gonzalez, Gausman, Jimenez and Gallardo) are going to be here for at least two more years after Gallardo's agreement last night. That provides the organization time to continue to develop minor league pitchers to join them or eventually take their place.

The bullpen, which has been a real team strength in recent seasons, should stay mostly together for a while. The group of Britton, O'Day, Brach and Givens are here at least through 2018. Givens and O'Day could be teammates for at least four more seasons.

By re-signing several players this winter and adding from the farm some young talent in recent years, the Orioles have built up a good nucleus of talent that will be around awhile to make a run at a few American League East titles.

This is perhaps even more prudent at a time when the club's minor league system is drawing criticism. It buys time for the farm to get built up.

The Orioles' lengthy list of free agents heading into this winter will be less so heading into next winter. Then Wieters will be a free agent along with Brian Matusz, Nolan Reimold and Mark Trumbo.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, the O's have $76 million in salary right now committed for 2017 and over $62 million for 2018. The O's seem to be in a good position for the next few years with some good talent locked up, but while also holding some payroll flexibility to make needed moves.

About the physicals: Once again, the Orioles are getting some criticism about their so-called hard-to-pass physicals. It is any team's right to make their physical as stringent as they like and I would imagine different doctors interpret results in different ways.

But to me, this is not just related to the Orioles. Tommy Hunter reportedly did not pass the Yankees' physical, the Dodgers failed to pass pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma and recently a three-team trade that would have involved outfielder Jay Bruce got nixed, reportedly due to the medicals.

In a case where the Orioles were often questioned, the one involving pitcher Grant Balfour, their decision proved correct. The Orioles initially agreed to a two-year deal worth $15 million for the right-hander, but later looked to alter the contract terms and the deal fell apart. Keep in mind this happened after Balfour was coming off a 2013 season where his ERA was 2.59 and he averaged 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Then he eventually went to Tampa Bay and pitched to an ERA of 4.91 with a WHIP of 1.444 in 2014. A year later, he pitched in just 4 1/3 innings with the club and was released. His velocity, which was 93.3 mph in 2013, dropped to 91.6 and then to 89.7.

The Orioles' concerns about the Gallardo physical led to his restructured deal for two years with a team option for a third season. The sides had originally agreed to a straight three-year deal.

I don't think fans should be too concerned that the reputation for a tough physical will keep players from wanting to play for the Orioles in the future. Players and their agents are more interested in dollars than doctors. In the end, it will come down to contract terms and not medical terms.

Dempsey's tonight: I hope some fans can come out to Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant at the Camden Yards Warehouse tonight for the live broadcast of the "Hot Stove Show" at 6 p.m. on 105.7 The Fan. I will join host Jim Hunter for the hour-long program. We will talk on the phone with three prominent O's young players - first baseman Trey Mancini, catcher Chance Sisco and pitcher Chris Lee. All three are currently with the Orioles in major league camp in Sarasota, Fla.