placido polanco

Orioles could be interested in Phillies players Joe Blanton, Juan Pierre, Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence.

Daily Think Special: Who do you want at the trade deadline?

With next Tuesday¿s 4 p.m. trade deadline looming, the Orioles have a decision to make: bat or arm? Or neither?

In the past few weeks, the Orioles have had contact with the San Diego Padres about third baseman Chase Headley, the Philadelphia Phillies about third baseman Placido Polanco and the Chicago Cubs about first baseman Bryan LaHair.

The Orioles' first-half statistics aren't pretty, but they hold one statistical trump card. The only one that really, truly matters right now: .529. That's the fifth best winning percentage in the American League.

There's little debate to the notion that Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz has pitched well this spring training — especially considering he's coming off an awful 2011 season — but whether he's dazzled the Baltimore brass enough to earn a starting rotation spot still remains to be seen.

Brian Matusz made easy work of the Phillies early Sunday afternoon at Bright House Field, but the end result left questions about whether the Orioles left-hander will make the team¿s starting rotation.

There's no joy right now in Philadelphia, where Phillies fans have to be wondering just what will go wrong next.