As players file for free agency and teams make decisions on options, I want to take a look at organizations by division, discussing their plans and possible moves in the off-season.

Baltimore Orioles

The following Orioles are eligible for free agency: Tony Batista, Hector Carrasco, Scott Erickson, Brook Fordyce, Pat Hentgen, Robert Machado, and B.J. Surhoff.

Baltimore still has options on Deivi Cruz and Kerry Ligtenberg. I expect them to exercise their $200,000 buyout of Cruz's $1.5M option, making him a free agent. On the other hand, I think they very well may pick up Ligtenberg's $1.2M option rather than pay him a $200,000 buyout. The Orioles turned down the $4M options of Fordyce and Hentgen, though they'd like to re-sign Hentgen at a lower price. Baltimore will seek a big bat to replace Fordyce behind the plate. Since Florida likely will retain Ivan Rodriguez, Javy Lopez should sign with the Orioles.

However, their big target this off-season is Vladimir Guerrero. With Albert Belle's contract finally up and several other sizeable deals expiring, Baltimore has a great deal of payroll flexibility, especially with little of that money needed to provide multi-year contracts for homegrown talent. Therefore, the Orioles are in a position to top any offer Guerrero may receive from another club. Guerrero's back problems were a little troubling this year, but he bounced back quite effectively. The Orioles need a cornerstone for their offense, and Guerrero is the right player for them to build around. They can find other people to fit around him, but if they miss out on Vlad because they've spent too much on other free agents, they won't be able to cover for that mistake.

The Orioles off-season will be a success if they sign Vladimir Guerrero.