SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles continued on Wednesday to go over the medicals of pitcher Yovani Gallardo, an issue that started with an MRI on Monday and doesn't look like it will reach an immediate resolution.
"What do you define as dragging it out? There are things Dan [Duquette, executive vice president of baseball operations] brings me up to speed on one or two times a day. I told him there are some things I don't want to know. I don't want to tell you something that isn't correct," manager Buck Showalter said of the team's timeline with Gallardo. "I want to be respectful of everybody. It's a very thorough process, and we'll see where it takes us."
• O's agree to three-year deal with Gallardo
Gallardo, who has averaged 191 innings pitched over the past seven seasons, has never had any significant shoulder injuries. In fact, one of the things that Baltimore liked about the right-hander is his rather spotless medical history. But the O's are notorious sticklers in their physical examinations, and the one done on Gallardo, who turns 30 on Saturday, has raised a flag despite not showing any injury symptoms in the shoulder.
While the exact nature of what showed up on Gallardo's MRI is unknown, multiple sources told MLB.com on Wednesday that what was revealed didn't necessarily indicate an injury is inevitable and that it's fairly common among Major League pitchers to have some wear and tear in their throwing shoulder.
The Orioles' concern, of course, lies in the nature of committing to the three-year, $35 million deal, agreed upon on Saturday, and if there is any shred of uncertainty about Gallardo down the road. The team, which would forfeit a Draft pick to sign him, is being ultra-cautious and could look for a way to renegotiate the terms of the agreement.
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"It's kind of being respectful of the process, and our guys will do a good job with it, and we'll see where it goes. I know everything I need to know," Showalter said. "My focus is on the people who are here. If somebody else shows up, we'll move forward with it."
This wouldn't be the first time Baltimore has voided a deal based on medicals. Recent examples include pitcher Grant Balfour and outfielders Tyler Colvin and Nick Markakis, though Markakis never reached the stage of an actual agreement.
The Orioles also reached an agreement with outfielder Dexter Fowler on Tuesday night, and Fowler was expected to arrive in Sarasota on Wednesday. That move is also pending a physical, though Showalter wouldn't comment on it.
• Source: Orioles, Fowler agree to 3-year deal
"I can't go there," he said. "If and when we do -- if all of the sudden it doesn't happen, and we've got people out there reading what the manager's saying what would have happened if another guy came in there -- I'm focused on those guys in our clubhouse and see what happens. I like our club whether they come or not."