Should the O’s add new players or extend core pieces?

The Orioles have released the details of the new deal with Ubaldo Jimenez, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. The 30-year-old right hander reportedly passed his physical, making the deal official.

The fact that the team had to forfeit their first-round draft choice could make it easier for them to consider adding another qualified free agent. Doing so would only cost them the 55th overall pick, and as the season nears, players like Nelson Cruz and Ervin Santana could be had for much less than they would have commanded earlier this winter.

However, Baltimore also has a few key players that are approaching free agency. Most notably Chris Davis and Matt Wieters. When the team decided to move Jim Johnson to the Athletics, the trade was reported as an effort to clear cap space, which certainly could lead to the club bringing in another big name from the open market -- like Santana. Though, on the other hand, losing Davis and Wieters in the near future would be considerable blows to an organization that can't exactly spend their way to the top of the always super-competitive AL East.

A long-term deal for Manny Machado would also be an excellent investment, depending on the parameters. As the Braves have shown numerous times this offseason, many young players are open to extension that buy out their arbitration years, and teams are often able to buy out a year of free agency as well. Machado would likely command a huge investment, but a cost-controlled extension might be preferable to the chance that he becomes a superstar and begins earning huge annual raises in front of the panel.

Baltimore also has several young arms to consider for extensions in the near future. Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy lead a group of promising young starters that could become fixtures in the O's rotation over the next few seasons.