Now that both players are off the market we can really and truly come to terms with the fact that there’s probably not going to be a “big” move for the O’s this offseason. There might be a trade, sure, but even if there is I can’t see it being a blockbuster. Rather, the legacy of Dan Duquette‘s first Hot Stove season is one of shoring up organizational depth, reconfiguring the front office, and making solid preliminary inroads to the international market. None of those things figure to pay obvious dividends at the major league level in 2012, although we might be pleasantly surprised.

Side note: there’s been chatter about Manny Ramirez but that comes from Ken Rosenthal and I trust his reporting on the Orioles about as much as I trust a Wall Street Journal editorial on economic policy. Which is to say I take it with a ten pound grain of salt.

So now, with Spring Training just about a month away, I have a question: how do we grade Hot Stove 2012? Are you satisfied, disgruntled, or something in between?

I have my thoughts but I’ll save them for the comments. Here’s to kicking off the season.

My apologies for the outage. Hopefully things are back to normal now and we can go about our business of not discussing the Pro Bowl.

Orioles-related matters coming this week…

But there’s good news. We are now in the heady territory where we start to pack up the Hot Stove and turn our attention in earnest to that most lovely moment when pitchers and catchers report. February 18th for the Orioles if you don’t already have it marked on the calendar.

I’ve been kind of hands-off this year with the Hot Stove because, to be honest, there hasn’t been much to say. I do appreciate that Duquette has made strides in the international market and I like that the team appears to have more depth than at any point in recent memory. The problem is that today — before anyone takes the field — there’s no clear logic to how the 2012 team will be significantly improved from the one that let us down in 2011.

Perhaps that’s not fair. There is actually a clear path to improvement, it’s just not necessarily a likely path.

If one or more of the young pitchers finally emerge, and if Markakis rebounds, and if guys like Hardy and Wieters stay strong, and if Reimold finally gets a chance and cashes in on it, and if…you get the idea. If a lot of things happen, this team could surprise a few people. Maybe even us.

It’s not even crazy to think those things might happen. But I was hoping — still am — for something this offseason that would help tip the scale. Shoring up the foundation is great but it only goes so far.

That said, it’s not even February yet. A lot can and will happen between now and Opening Day. Whatever those moves end up being, I’m starting to feel that familiar and welcome excitement about spring and the return of baseball. Because, truly, that’s a great thing no matter the win-loss expectations.

And, as it happens, I believe said energy will both stick around and grow. For a few more weeks, at least. I think there’s an air of destiny about this group and I think they’ll handle their business up in Foxboro. Sometimes with a team like this you can just see, or feel, something. Plus it’s Ray Rice‘s birthday today and that’s just too perfect.

Have fun today, ladies and gents.

Reason being, I’m not sure what I’ll have to add this time around. I’m kind of in “wait and see” or, more accurately, “wait and hope” mode. Every move they’ve made so far this offseason amounts to fiddling around the edges. I like that they’ve added depth and revamped some of the front office positions but I’m not going to lie to myself or anyone else and claim that there’s tremendous reason for excitement.

Nevertheless, I’m always grateful to the team for the chance to offer my two cents in a public forum. If you’re down at the convention center today, my panel starts at 5:25. Stop by and say hi — should be a fun time.