What's on today's agenda?

Has everyone moved on from the Nelson Cruz news? Has the depression subsided? No more Cruz blues?

This blog was on Cruz control yesterday, judging by the number of comments.

I hadn't surrendered hope that Cruz would stay with the Orioles, but I kept warning that he'd need to come down to three years. I'm just surprised that he made the decision a week before the start of the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

Did his agent read the market and determine that the Mariners' offer of $57 million wouldn't be trumped? That no other team was going to give Cruz four years?

It seemed to come together so quickly.

In other words, the opposite of what's transpiring with Nick Markakis, who now has teams "sniffing around," according to one person in the industry. The Braves are believed to be included in that group.

The longer this drags out, the more likely that the Orioles will need to replace two outfielders before opening day.

Rival executives who previously assumed that Markakis was staying in Baltimore now sense that he's more open to a change because the Orioles have failed to advance negotiations.

The door is opening wider for Torii Hunter, and a much bolder move should be in the works. A payroll without Cruz, Markakis and Andrew Miller certainly would allow for it.

I'd still make a hard run at Miller and stop worrying about the cost of a setup man, but the Orioles also have outfield issues.

As for today's agenda, Baseball America will reveal its choice for Major League Executive of the Year. The Orioles' Dan Duquette is expected to win it after being honored by the Sporting News last month.

Duquette has been praised for signing Cruz to a one-year, $8 million contract in spring training. Is it ironic that today's announcement comes a day after Cruz agreed to terms with the Mariners, or is that more of a coincidence?

Teams must decide by midnight whether to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players. The Orioles have 11 of them, and here's a reminder of their salaries this season and projected raises by MLBTradeRumors.com:

Alejandro De Aza: $4.25 million/$5.9 million
Matt Wieters: $7.7 million/$7.9 million
Steve Pearce: $700,000/$2.2 million
Bud Norris: $5.3 million/$8.7 million
Tommy Hunter: $3 million/$4.4 million
Chris Davis: $10.3 million/$11.8 million
Brian Matusz: $2.4 million/$2.7 million
Chris Tillman: $546,000/$5.4 million
Miguel Gonzalez: $529,000/$3.7 million
Ryan Flaherty: $513,000/$1 million
Zach Britton: $521,500/$3.2 million

I've already written that the Orioles will tender Davis and De Aza unless something changed overnight. They wanted to bring back De Aza no matter what happened with Cruz and Markakis. Manager Buck Showalter already has predicted that Davis will be much better in 2015.

Cruz hit 40 home runs this season and two more in the American League Division Series. The Orioles really need Davis' presence in the middle of the lineup. He's a threat each time he steps to the plate, no matter where his average sits.

Hunter was deemed a possible non-tender back in May after losing the closer's job, but he's a valuable power arm in the seventh and eighth innings. He posted a 1.77 ERA in his last 43 appearances. He's a keeper in 2015.

The Orioles also are expected to hold onto Matusz despite the annual speculation that his salary is rising beyond what's acceptable for a reliever who's primarily a specialist. Matusz posted a 1.42 ERA in 23 appearances in the second half, surrendering only one home run, walking four and striking out 26.

Let's not forget that trades can be made before midnight. Does Jim Johnson ring a bell? Otherwise, the Orioles figure to tender all 11 of their eligibles. It could be a boring night.

Last year, they dealt Johnson, tendered contracts to Wieters, Davis, Norris, Hunter, Matusz and Troy Patton, agreed to terms with outfielders Nolan Reimold and Steve Pearce on one-year deals, and removed knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa and outfielder Jason Pridie from the 40-man roster.

Speaking of Reimold, the Orioles are willing to sign him to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, but he's obviously seeking a major league offer. He can always go back to them if one is lacking.