Rumor roundup: Active O's pursuing Gallardo

Right-hander is one of biggest names left on free-agent market

February 5th, 2016

The Baltimore Orioles accounted for much of the offseason action Thursday, announcing a trade with the Padres for righty Odrisamer Despaigne, avoiding arbitration with left-hander Brian Matusz and surfacing in free-agent rumors.
Even throughout the quiet weeks of the baseball calendar, the Hot Stove continues to burn. Here's a look at the latest developments from around the big leagues.
O's still interested in Gallardo
As the Orioles continue their quest to upgrade their starting rotation, they reportedly remain interested in free-agent pitcher Yovani Gallardo, according to FOXSports.com.
The O's have continually been linked to Gallardo throughout the offseason, but may have been hesitant to sign the right-hander as he's tied to Draft compensation. Baltimore currently owns the No. 14 selection in June's Draft.
Gallardo remains one of the biggest names left on the pitching market. His lingering free agency may drive his price down to the point where the O's are willing to part with the Draft pick required to sign him.
Gallardo, 29, went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA through 33 starts in his first season with the Rangers last season. He spent the first eight seasons of his big league career with Milwaukee, the club that selected him in the second round of the 2004 Draft.
Bautista open to staying in Toronto
Toronto enters the 2016 season with major questions surrounding two of its stars, with Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista in the final year of their contracts.

Bautista quelled some concerns over his contract situation Thursday, expressing a desire to remain with the Blue Jays beyond next season. The outfielder told The Canadian Press that he would like to retire with Toronto and is open to discussing an extension before hitting the open market next winter.
"I have to have something to consider at some point if I'm going to make that decision, which hasn't happened yet," Bautista said. "So I'm going to continue to go about my business just like any other year and any other day, because I don't really have a decision to make right now."
Bautista has spent the last eight seasons with the Blue Jays, earning six consecutive All-Star nods. He hit .250/.377/.536 with 40 homers and 114 RBIs in 153 games in 2015.
Rays' Smyly wins arbitration
Rays left-hander Drew Smyly emerged as a winner in arbitration Thursday as his 2016 salary was set at $3.75 million, exceeding the $3.2 million figure the club submitted.

Smyly earned a $1.1 million raise from the $2.65 million he took home last year, a season cut short by a left shoulder injury. He made just 12 starts in 2015 due to the injury, going 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA.
Smyly joined the Rays from Detroit in a three-team deal at the Trade Deadline in 2014. He's under team control through the 2019 season.
Blue Jays to sign Floyd
The Blue Jays are reportedly nearing a deal with veteran pitcher Gavin Floyd, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Details of the deal are not yet known, and the club has not confirmed.
Floyd, 33, has played sparingly over the last three years due to various injuries. He last pitched a full season in 2012 with the White Sox, going 12-11 with a 4.29 ERA in 29 starts.
Floyd returned from a right elbow injury in 2015 to post a 2.70 ERA in seven relief outings with the Indians. He has a 72-72 career record and an ERA of 4.38 in 215 games (196 starts) through 12 big league seasons with the Phillies, White Sox, Braves and Indians.