LAS VEGAS - The Orioles still aren't considered the favorites to land coveted free agent Mark Teixeira, but you can't say they're not trying.
Orioles president Andy MacPhail acknowledged he met with the slugging first baseman and his agent, Scott Boras, late last week in Washington and came away impressed with the Severna Park native.
MacPhail didn't go into much detail about what transpired in the meeting, which came on the same day as Teixeira's talks with New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and ownership of the Washington Nationals.
"I think what he had a right to understand and I think what we have an obligation to tell him is where we are as an organization, what we're trying to do, how we're going to do it, how much progress we have made in the last year and a half," MacPhail said yesterday at baseball's winter meetings. "I'm sure he asked the same questions of all the teams he went to."
The Orioles have not made an offer to Teixeira, who is also drawing interest from the Los Angeles Angels (where he finished last season), Boston Red Sox, Yankees and Nationals. However, MacPhail said: "There are [players] that know where we are, in essence."
The Orioles president also said that, though he had no conversations with Boras yesterday, he expects to talk to him this week. Asked if he felt the Orioles had a good chance to land Teixeira, manager Dave Trembley said: "I wouldn't see why we wouldn't. I think we have just as good of a shot as anybody else."
In other winter meeting news:
* The Orioles are in serious discussions about a trade that would send catcher Ramon Hernandez to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder-utility man Ryan Freel and a mid-level prospect, according to sources.
The Orioles also would send cash to the Reds to help offset the difference in salaries. Freel, 32, who can play all three outfield positions and second and third base, is due to make $4 million next season, while Hernandez is owed $8 million in the last guaranteed year on his contract.
"There's been some discussions on different fronts," MacPhail said. "I wouldn't say there's nothing to it, but I have no idea - like a lot of trade discussions - of what the end result's going to be."
MacPhail said if Hernandez were traded, the team would try to acquire a veteran catcher. However, it still appears likely top prospect Matt Wieters will get every opportunity to win the starting catching job.
