Here's a look at what other media outlets are saying about the Orioles:
• The Boston Herald's Scott Lauber last week highlighted the Orioles' strong end to 2010, and wonders whether the club can repeat that success over a full season in 2011.
Instead, it served merely as a glimpse of their vast potential that had gone unrealized for most of the season and provided hope that a homegrown core, which regressed under Showalter's predecessors Dave Trembley and Juan Samuel, finally may be ripe to yield the Orioles' first winning season since 1997. But in the AL East meat grinder, it's easy to get carved up, especially with a rotation that presently doesn't include a pitcher who has won more than 11 games in a season. And Showalter refuses to take satisfaction from the blind optimism that often is spawned by the late-season success of an out-of-contention team.
• Yahoo! Sports' Brad Evans likes the fantasy potential of new Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds.
Though his stolen base production dropped off dramatically, Reynolds still contributed solidly in three categories (HR, RBI and R) in 2010. Only 26, he's yet to reach his power prime. Another 40-homer campaign is in the offing, maybe even this season. Don't be afraid of the AVG. Remember prior to last season's nosedive, Reynolds batted .256 from 2007-2009. If he can trim down the fly-balls and jump on fastballs earlier in counts, a final AVG north of .250 is very likely. Also keep in mind the AL East is overloaded with lefties, hurlers the prodigious corner has mashed in his young career (.252/.528/.908 over 500 at-bats).
• Before the Orioles signed Justin Duchscherer on Sunday, SI.com's Jon Heyman ranked Andy MacPhail No. 11 on his list of the 21 biggest winners of the offseason.
Bouncing back from multiple rejections for prime free agents, he rebuilt the infield with trades for J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds before reeling in Derrek Lee on a reasonable $7.25-million deal. He also added Kevin Gregg to a bullpen in need. While the Orioles will be hard-pressed to contend in the AL East, they are indeed much-improved. Now, it looks like MacPhail has a pretty decent shot at Vladimir Guerrero at a very decent price. The Orioles are interested, but are saying they only have a few dollars left for free agents. Which, at this point, may be enough.
• Craig Calcaterra of NBCSports.com's Hardball Talk said the immediate reaction to the Duchscherer signing was positive.
This sounds like a great deal for Baltimore. If Duchscherer can stay healthy, he stands a decent shot of anchoring the O's rotation. If not? It's not a ton of money and thus no tremendous loss.
• The Tokyo Times caught up with reliever Koji Uehara, who is excited to compete against Kevin Gregg for the club's closer role.
"I'll try to win the closer's job," Uehara said Saturday in Tokyo about two weeks before the voluntary spring training reporting date for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 14. Last year, Uehara became the Orioles' closer in late August and converted 13 of his 15 save opportunities. But his closer status is now in question after the Orioles signed free agent right-hander Gregg to a two-year contract earlier this month. "I feel a sense of urgency and at the same time I'm excited to face competition," Uehara said.
[Compiled by Jonathan Meoli]