The Orioles grew leery of Bill Swift's injury history and Kevin Brown's asking price, and all the while they grew enamored of left-hander Danny Jackson.
They loved the idea of his pitching at Camden Yards, but they lost him to the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday.
The Orioles' courtship of Jackson ended when the Cardinals announced that they had signed the former Philadelphia Phillie to a three-year deal worth from $10.5 million to $11 million, including a signing bonus of $1.5 million. The Orioles had offered $10.5 million for three years.
"He lives very near there and it is a National League team," Orioles owner Peter Angelos said of Jackson, a Kansas City, Mo., resident. "Those were the only circumstances that led to his decision not to sign with the Orioles."
The Cardinals also signed closer Tom Henke to a one-year deal worth $1 million, plus a signing bonus.
The Orioles, lacking a proven closer, continued negotiations with free agent Lee Smith, who saved a major-league-best 33 games for them in strike-shortened 1994.
The Orioles and Smith's representative, Brian David, discussed a one-year deal, and the California Angels kept their two-year offer of close to $4.5 million on the table.
"We talked today and we'll continue the dialogue," Orioles general manager Roland Hemond said.
The Orioles still want to acquire a pitcher to drop into the middle of a rotation that includes Mike Mussina, Ben McDonald, Sid Fernandez and Arthur Rhodes, with Jamie Moyer available for starting or relieving duties.
They might pursue one in a trade, or try to acquire a starter through free agency, should the field expand under a new economic system.
In Jackson, the Orioles lost out on a pitcher who went 14-6 with a 3.26 ERA in 25 games with the Phillies last season. Except for the strike, Jackson would have surpassed 200 innings for the third season in a row.
Jackson, 32, has pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Phillies.
In Jackson, the Orioles lost out on a pitcher who has appeared in four playoff series, three World Series and two All-Star Games, and a pitcher who after signing a four-year, $10.6 million contract with the Cubs in 1990, went 20 consecutive starts without a victory during one stretch.
The Cardinals want to add another starting pitcher and have expressed interest in trading for California left-hander Chuck Finley.
In Henke, the Cardinals acquired a pitcher who saved 15 games in 21 tries for the Texas Rangers in 1994, pushing his career save total to 275.
Smith's all-time-leading save total has reached 434, and he was on a pace to save at least 40 games when the strike hit in August.
Yet the Orioles, fearing Smith, 37, showed his age during a so-so second half, have let the Angels be the aggressors in the hunt for his services.
"I'd like to give the hitters a little of the credit," Smith said of his second half. "They get paid, too."
Said Orioles assistant GM Frank Robinson: "We haven't been ignoring Lee. We're still interested."
Smith indicated he does not expect to wait much longer before deciding on the Angels' offer.
Meanwhile, the Orioles continue to negotiate with free-agent right fielder Jay Buhner.
Thus far, left-handed-hitting reserve catcher Matt Nokes ($750,000 plus incentives) has been the Orioles' only free-agent acquisition.