Wondering whether Orioles acquire another outfielder

Areas that the Orioles must address during the offseason, when they're able to function normally again post-lockout, may or may not include the outfield.

How's that for a definitive statement?

The Orioles signed catcher Jacob Nottingham to a minor league contract last week, but they still don't have a backstop on the 40-man roster. They aren't done and could offer a major league deal after a new collective bargaining agreement allows it, along with at least one more minor league pact.

The infield is settled at first base with the combination of Ryan Mountcastle and Trey Mancini, and perhaps at second base with Rougned Odor, unless he fails miserably in spring training and isn't deemed worthy of the league minimum salary. But who's playing shortstop and third base?

The in-house candidates likely are going to receive competition from more outsiders.

Jordan Lyles' $7 million contract becomes official after he passes his physical and signs, a process put on hold during the shutdown, but the Orioles haven't concluded their search for starting pitchers. More should be coming, probably on minor league deals, to provide protection in case the prospects stumble while trying to take the next step.

(Let me add that the part about minor league deals is an assumption - just like I assumed that the Orioles wouldn't pay $7 million for a starting pitcher during the rebuild.)

The bullpen seems closer to being a finished product after the non-tender deadline, and Cionel Pérez being a waiver claim to provide another camp option among left-handers if he sticks on the 40-man roster, but I can see the Orioles perusing the free agent market and making another move before spring training.

I'm less confident about the outfield after the Orioles pulled Anthony Santander from the non-tender speculation and signed him to a $3.15 million contract for 2022. Of course, trades can happen before opening day. Santander is a chip and executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is listening to offers for Cedric Mullins like anyone in a front office would do.

If everyone stays in place, the outfield would appear set with Santander, Mullins and Austin Hays as regulars in the lineup, and DJ Stewart and Ryan McKenna under consideration for bench roles. Odor's arrival might push Jahmai Jones back into the outfield, where he seems most comfortable. Or he stays in the dirt and maybe goes back to Triple-A.

The Orioles have their greatest positional depth in the outfield and we haven't even talked about Kyle Stowers, Robert Neustrom and Yusniel Diaz in Triple-A. Or Tyler Nevin, who made his major league debut this year and drove his first career home run 442 feet into the upper deck at Rogers Centre.

So again, maybe the Orioles are content with their selection of outfielders, or maybe they sign a veteran to a minor league deal - someone in the mold of, say, Craig Gentry, Chris Dickerson, Quintin Berry or Mason Williams. Just to spice up the camp competition and provide a little insurance.

"It was great this year to see some guys get a lot of games under their belt and prove that they can play at a high level in the big leagues and do what we've all been able to do in the past in the minor leagues," Hays said. "Prove that we can do the same thing in the big leagues and be a part of a good Orioles team moving forward."

Neustrom was left unprotected in the postponed Rule 5 draft. The Orioles certainly would like to keep him around.

* In case you missed last night's update, the Orioles actually received three players in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft because they traded for pitcher Tommy Wilson after making their two selections.

The Mariners selected Wilson from the Mets and the Orioles got him for cash considerations.

Wilson hasn't pitched above Double-A and appeared in only 10 games this summer, but he had a 2.35 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with Binghamton and struck out 18 batters in 15 1/3 innings. Opponents batted .182 against him.

The delivery is unique, with Wilson pulling the ball out of his glove early and hiding it behind his left knee, a switch made at Los Angeles Pierce College that increased his velocity and kept his arm from dragging.

The way his father delivers lines in films is even better.

Wilson's father is actor Thomas Wilson, who played bully Biff Tannen in "Back to the Future."

Wilson was born 11 years after its release.

Now, make like a tree and get outta here.

* The Orioles signed pitcher Jarlin Guerrero to a minor league contract this week, according to Major League Baseball's transactions page.

Guerrero is 22 years old, right-handed, listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds and has no minor league statistics. He's been assigned to the Dominican Summer League Orioles1.

That's all I know about Jarlin Guerrero and it isn't much.

* On this date in 2013, the Orioles sent infielder Cord Phelps outright to Triple-A Norfolk.

No big deal. I just wanted to write "Cord Phelps" one more time.

More important, on this date in 2010, the Orioles acquired shortstop J.J. Hardy from the Twins for minor league pitchers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson.

Infielder Brendan Harris also was included in the trade, but Hardy overshadowed him just a bit.

Today's question: Who are the top three shortstops in Orioles history?

Not your three favorites, necessarily, but the three best to wear the uniform. Does Hardy make the cut? Does he belong in the same conversation with, say, Cal Ripken Jr., Mark Belanger, Luis Aparicio, Miguel Tejada, Mike Bordick and Bobby Bonner?

As always, enjoy my sarcasm.