Wieters, Worley, draft order and minor matters

As another potential suitor for Matt Wieters is eliminated from consideration, speculation mounts that the Orioles could arrange an unexpected reunion with the free agent catcher.

The Braves always have been viewed as the likely landing spot for Wieters, the former Georgia Tech star who owns a home in the Atlanta area, but they veered in a different direction yesterday and signed Kurt Suzuki.

The market isn't completely dry, but the instructions call for the user to add water.

The Angels could make a late run at Wieters, who's also been linked to the Rockies, White Sox and Reds. The Nationals keep insisting that they're not interested. I know there are people in the organization who don't rate him favorably.

That's also true with the Orioles.

I agree with ESPN's Jerry Crasnick regarding the division within the Orioles organization related to Wieters. There are supporters who gladly would take him back on a one-year deal below the $17.2 million qualifying offer that they didn't give him. Others are ready to move on and pair Caleb Joseph or Francisco Pena with Welington Castillo, who's making $6 million in 2017.

The Orioles aren't looking to pay that amount to a backup catcher.

Wieters, in theory, could share the catching duties and serve as a right-handed designated hitter while Mark Trumbo moves to right field and Seth Smith goes to the bench versus left-handers. Trey Mancini's chance to break camp with the team most likely would crumble.

I'm trying to imagine how agent Scott Boras could put a positive spin on such an arrangement. Settling for a one-year deal for well below the guaranteed $18.5 million that the Blue Jays gave outfielder Jose Bautista. And falling short of the three-year, $24.5 million contract that the Twins gave catcher Jason Castro.

Are Wieters' poor grades in pitch framing hurting him this much? And is his bat worthy of a DH role, even if it's part-time?

Wieters hit .231/.304/.346 with three home runs against left-handers last season. He has a career .273/.333/.468 slash line while batting from the right side and a .250/.312/.404 slash line from the left side.

I'm also trying to imagine how potentially awkward and uncomfortable it would be for manager Buck Showalter to divvy up the catching duties.

Crasnick classified Wieters' return to the Orioles as a longshot. Sounds right to me. But the bench certainly would look better.

* The Orioles remain focused on adding another pitcher. Jason Hammel's name came up, but that was before they signed Trumbo to a three-year, $37.5 million contract that pays him $11 million in 2017. They figure to take a less-expensive route to improving their pitching depth.

Interest remains in re-signing Vance Worley, though not everyone in the organization views him as a potential starter. He's valued for handling a variety of roles and eating up innings in the bullpen.

I keep hearing that Worley could come into play "if his price drops." The Orioles non-tendered him rather than risk going to arbitration, where MLBTradeRumors.com projected that he'd earn $3.3 million.

* The Orioles hold the 21st pick in the 2017 amateur draft after Trumbo, the last of the 10 players to receive qualifying offers, came off the board

Here's the draft order:

1. Twins
2. Reds
3. Padres
4. Rays
5. Braves
6. Athletics
7. Diamondbacks
8. Phillies
9. Brewers
10. Angels
11. White Sox
12. Pirates
13. Marlins
14. Royals
15. Astros
16. Yankees
17. Mariners
18. Tigers
19. Giants
20. Mets
21. Orioles
22. Blue Jays
23. Dodgers
24. Red Sox
25. Nationals
26. Rangers
27. Cubs

In the compensation round, the Blue Jays pick 28th, the Rangers 29th and the Cubs 30th.

* Former Orioles Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar has signed a minor league deal with the Tigers, according to Baseball America's free agent tracker.

Other former Orioles farmhands to change organizations includes pitchers Pedro Beato (Phillies), Jeff Beliveau (Blue Jays), Cesar Cabral (Red Sox), Ivan Hernandez (Angels), Kyle Lobstein (Marlins), Andy Oliver (Brewers), Edgar Olmos (Red Sox), David Richardson (Braves) and Jason Stoffel (Pirates); catcher Wynston Sawyer (Dodgers); infielders Corban Joseph (Nationals) and Joey Terdoslavich (Pirates); and outfielders Zach Kapstein (White Sox) and Quincy Latimore (Tigers).