The Orioles have a surplus of outfielders, and one of the first things Syd Thrift plans to do today when he gets to Tucson, Ariz., is talk to other teams about their interest in center fielder Chris Singleton.
Baseball officials will gather in Tucson this weekend, with the general managers' meetings set to begin Monday. Thrift, the Orioles' vice president for baseball operations, said about five teams have expressed interest in Singleton, who hit .262 in 136 games last season.
Singleton, 30, became expendable when Thrift acquired Gary Matthews from the New York Mets in April and Matthews went on to hit .276 before a wrist injury forced him to miss the final five weeks of the season.
After making $1.4 million last year, Singleton is eligible for arbitration, which could nearly double his salary. If the Orioles don't trade him, they might non-tender his contract, which would turn him into a free agent.
"He's going to have a good year next year," Thrift said. "I really believe that."
In other Orioles news:
They received permission from the Los Angeles Dodgers to interview Bill Bavasi as a candidate to replace Thrift. As the general manager of the Anaheim Angels from 1994 to 1999, Bavasi helped pool many of the players who just helped the Angels win the World Series. He now works as the Dodgers' director of player development.
Bavasi will likely interview next week. Former Chicago White Sox GM Ron Schueler will interview today, and Seattle Mariners VP of scouting and player development Roger Jongewaard will interview Thursday.
After signing Willis Roberts, Rodrigo Lopez and Travis Driskill as six-year, minor-league free agents in recent years, Thrift was like a kid in a candy store when this year's crop became available.
The Orioles signed catcher Carlos Mendez, who hit .324 in 103 games with Triple-A Sacramento in the Oakland Athletics' system last year, and left-handed pitcher Rigoberto Beltran, who played in Japan last season. Both were invited to big-league spring training camp, along with right-hander Fernando Rijo, who pitched at Double-A and Triple-A for the Dodgers.
The Orioles also signed third baseman Brian Ramos and re-signed first baseman Luis Jimenez and right-handed pitcher Mike Drumright, a first-round pick with the Detroit Tigers in 1995 who went 5-7 with a 3.46 ERA in 21 starts at Triple-A Rochester last year.
"There was a lot of competition for them," Thrift said. "I'm glad they came here with us."
The Fiesta Bowl announced that former Oriole Cal Ripken will be grand marshal of its parade on Dec. 31 in Tempe, Ariz.
The Orioles picked up the two option years on their contract with WBAL, which will keep them on their longstanding flagship station at least through 2004. The station re-signed Jim Hunter and Fred Manfra to new two-year deals, and Steve Stewart will continue filling in occasionally in a play-by-play role.
"We feel we have a good relationship with the Orioles," said Jeff Beauchamp, WBAL vice president. "Maryland-area residents who like baseball want to hear them on a station with a good signal. That's why we continue to work with them."
The Associated Press contributed to this article.