O's Won't Offer Arbitration

Orioles President Andy MacPhail said the club isn't planning on offering arbitration to free agents Kevin Millar, Jay Payton, Juan Castro and Alex Cintron before tonight's midnight deadline. This comes as no surprise.

But more importantly, after the deadline, MacPhail expects things to pick up in what's been a quiet free agent market. That's because teams will know for sure whether signing a top-flight free agent will cost a first or second round draft pick, forfeited as a form of compensation.

"The market is just starting to unfold," MacPhail said. "We're pretty much where everybody else is."