O's ramping up efforts at Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Orioles are ramping up their efforts to make a move, extending several offers to free agents on Wednesday -- including closer Grant Balfour -- and continuing trade discussions, although it remains to be seen if they will have anything to show for it when they board a plane and head back north on Thursday afternoon.

"We've got offers out to hitters, we've got offers out to pitchers that are both starters and relievers," Dan Duquette, executive vice president of baseball operations, said. "Our effort is there, we just haven't closed a deal yet."

The Orioles watched several pieces that they'd liked come off the board during the third full day of the Winter Meetings, including pitcher Bartolo Colon -- who signed a two-year, $20 million pact with the Mets -- and first baseman/outfielder Logan Morrison, who was traded from Miami to Seattle.

Is Duquette, who was confident earlier in the week that the club would add players, feeling any pressure to make a move as the Meetings wind down?

"We are going to try to get something done," he said. "Sometimes you can lay the groundwork [at the Winter Meetings] and make a deal a day or two after. That would be good. But we would certainly like to get something done here this week."

Duquette said that the market has pretty much set itself, and he expects some trades during the Meetings' final days. Whether any of those moves involve the Orioles -- who have prioritized pitching and a left-handed bat -- remains to be seen.