O's Potential Contenders?

Think about it...the Orioles in a playoff race. They aren't too far from it. They are a young team with a young core and a veteran here and there to balance things out. Given they do have a few holes that they need to fill, mostly in pitching, but you get a guy that the team can feed off of and shadow, the O's could make a push in years to come, maybe sooner.

They have made several pickups this past offseason that seem to be pushing their team in the right direction, adding on to their well bred, homegrown talent. Vladimir Guerrero, who is coming off of a resurgent 2010, is the veteran presence with the playoff and succeding experience that the O's need. Derrek Lee is another strong seasoned player that the Orioles could definitely use in the clubhouse.

The line up in Baltimore is strong. Vlad and Luke Scott will likely platoon in the DH role. Felix Pie, Adam Jones, and doubles king, Nick Markakis are a very strong outfield. Newcomers Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy are a major upgrade on the left side of the infield. Brian Roberts and Derrek Lee filling out the right side, with Wieters behind the dish, it's hard to find a hole in that lineup, it's weakest spot arguably being with a growing Pie in left.

However, the one spot that will drag the Orioles to mediocrity this year will be the pitching staff. Matusz, Arrieta, Bergesen, and Guthrie have not been doing the job. Justin Duchscherer is a step in the right direction, but he alone can't pull the O's. The one upside is that these pitchers are still young, and have a large upside.

Reliever Koji Uehara is a strong asset to the Orioles that will be turned to many times over the course of the year to hold opponents.

Look for the Orioles to make a large push at the trade deadline after manager Buck Showalter leads this team to contention once again.