The Orioles need Chris Davis, and Davis might need the Orioles

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It’s Jan. 12. Chris Davis is still a free agent even though he led the majors in homers with 47 in 2015, and is the overall league leader in dingers since becoming a full-time player in 2012. The Orioles are the only team that has been in sustained, serious discussion with him as far as anyone knows, and their offers, to this point, haven’t been enough to convince Davis or his agent, Scott Boras, that Baltimore is where he’ll spend the bulk of the rest of his career. The Orioles know they can wait for their seven-year, $154 million offer to look more attractive to Davis, though, because Davis might need them as much as they need him.

Yes, the Orioles could sign someone else, like Justin Upton. Yes, Davis -- or more accurately, Boras -- could convince the owner of one team or another that Davis is worth $175 million or $200 million or whatever the magical threshold they’ve decided on is. Davis has thrived with the O’s, though, and the Orioles have benefited from it, so neither side seems willing to walk away just yet. This might be especially true in Baltimore’s case, as owner Peter Angelos reportedly is a big fan of Davis. But since you can’t name another team who has seriously entertained the idea of signing the first baseman, it’s especially true for his side, too.

Manager Buck Showalter wouldn’t be surprised if it took until March for Davis to sign. If that’s the case, we better hope the markets for Upton and Yoenis Cespedes aren’t hinging on what Davis does, because if they are, we’re in for a very quiet and very boring month before spring training begins. It’s hard to believe the Orioles would leave so many of their roster questions unanswered until that late date, though, so we should be spared that kind of delay. Hopefully.