Bargain Free Agents the Baltimore Orioles Should Keep on Their Radar

The season of free agency is in full swing, and for the Baltimore Orioles, some tidying up needs to be done.

Luckily for the Birds, the starting rotation is not an area of concern this time around, which hasn't been the case for several years.

Baltimore's starters finished in the top half in MLB in starter ERA with 3.61, and every starter that ended the year in the rotation possessed an ERA of 3.65 or lower.

This offseason, the Orioles will primarily have to address the offensive side of things. At the moment, they have holes in right field, designated hitter and in the bullpen with Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz, Delmon Young and Andrew Miller all hitting free agency.

With that being said, they are discussing a four-year contract with Markakis, and Roch Kubatko of MasnSports.com thinks a deal will be coming "in the not-too-distant future."

The Orioles will need to plug up a number of holes and maybe more depending on if they are successful in re-signing their own free agents. In any case, as always, the club will look to add depth to positions at a bargain if they can help it.

Here are a few bargain free agents the Orioles should keep on their radar. 

Alberto Callaspo, IF

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Utility infielder Alberto Callaspo would be a sneaky signing for the Baltimore Orioles if the price is affordable.

The switch-hitting veteran played the past two seasons out in Oakland and was a valuable depth option for a club that surrounds itself in bargain-type players.

Callaspo was solid defensively in 2014, committing just eight errors in 122 games played.

Although this past season was a down year for him offensively, he is just one year removed from a season in which he posted a more-than-serviceable triple-slash line of .258/.333/.369.

The signing of Callaspo would represent insurance in case third baseman Manny Machado is injured again for an extended period of time or is unable to start the season for a second consecutive year.

Also, second basemen Jonathan Schoop and Ryan Flaherty may benefit from having a veteran of nine years in the clubhouse. 

Joe Thatcher, RP

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Relief pitcher Joe Thatcher would be a preferable replacement as a lefty coming out of the pen if and when Andrew Miller decides to sign with a club that throws an absurd amount of money at the elite-level reliever.

Thatcher, who did not end his season particularly well with the Los Angeles Angels in the second half, could be had for a bargain if his recent performance knocked down his price like it should.

Thatcher earned $2,375,000 this past season, which is chump change if we consider how well he pitched in the first half.

Before being shipped off to Los Angeles, Thatcher pitched to a 2.63 ERA with a 9.4 strikeout-per-nine ratio as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Orioles would be wise to keep Thatcher's name in mind, especially if they decide to part ways with relief pitcher Brian Matusz. 

Delmon Young, DH/OF

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Delmon Young was a consistently reliable bat all season long for the Orioles.

Signed to a minor league deal prior to the 2014 season worth $1 million and an extra $750,000 in incentives, Young was everything the O's could have hoped for and more.

The designated hitter/outfielder hit for over a .300 batting average and was one of the most clutch performers for Baltimore, hitting for a .340 average in late and close games, which are defined as situations in the seventh inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one, or the tying run at least on deck.

If signed, Young would yet again play the part of a solid veteran coming off the bench to spell anyone who needs a day off here and there or if first basemen Chris Davis and Steve Pearce start to scuffle at the plate.

Stats provided by Baseball-Reference and ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.