The Baltimore Orioles have a lot of candidates for the starting rotation this spring. They traded (Dana Eveland), signed a free agent from the States (Armando Galarraga) and they signed a couple of guys from Japan (Tsuyoshi Wada and Wei-Ying Chen) to compete for spots in the rotation. Here’s a look at how the rotation could shake up:

#1: Jeremy Guthrie: 32-year old righty Jeremy Guthrie would be an outstanding #4 or #5 starter, but he’s mis-cast as the Orioles’ ace. He pitched in 34 games (32 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 9-17 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has now pitched in 161 games (153 starts) in his first five years with the Orioles and he is 47-65 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Guthrie’s record is a reflection of how bad the Orioles have been recently as he is a pretty solid pitcher and competitor on the mound. He has now pitched in 177 games (154 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 47-65 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.

#2: Tsuyoshi Wada: 30-year old lefty Tsuyoshi Wada didn’t come cheap, so the Orioles are likely going to give him a spot in the rotation when the 2012 season begins. He pitched in 26 games (all starts) in Japan last year and he was 16-5 with a 1.51 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He pitched in 116 games (114 starts) in his five years in Japan and he was 57-36 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Wada had impressive numbers in Japan but he’s a junkballer type.

#3, #4 and #5: Zach Britton: 24-year old lefty Zach Britton was up and down for the Orioles as a rookie last year. He pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 11-11 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. If Britton can re-adjust to major league batters and pitch like he did early last year, he will win a spot in the starting rotation.

Jake Arrieta: 25-year old righty Jake Arrieta had injury problems last year. If he is healthy this spring, he will likely win a job in the Orioles’ rotation in 2012. He pitched in 22 games (all starts) for the O’s last year and he was 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Arrieta has now pitched in 40 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Orioles and he is 16-14 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Arrieta has a nice upside.

Tommy Hunter: 25-year old righty Tommy Hunter came over in the Koji Uehara deal with the Rangers last year. He pitched in 20 games (11 starts) for the Orioles & Rangers last year and he was 4-4 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Hunter has now pitched in 65 games (55 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 26-16 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He is a pretty decent pitcher when he’s healthy.

Dana Eveland: 28-year old lefty Dana Eveland came to the Orioles over the winter in a deal with the Dodgers. He pitched in 5 games (all starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Eveland has now pitched in 100 games (59 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 19-24 with 1 save, a 5.52 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. I think his success with the Dodgers last year was a mirage.

Armando Galarraga: 30-year old righty Armando Galarraga is more than capable of winning a job in the Orioles’ starting rotation this spring. He pitched in 8 games (all starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Galarraga has now pitched in 95 games (86 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 26-30 with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.

Wei-Ying Chen: 26-year old lefty Wei-Ying Chen is another soft tosser from Japan. He pitched in 25 games (24 starts) in Japan last year and he was 8-10 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Chen has pitched in 117 games (88 starts) in his four years in Japan and he is 36-30 with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

Alfredo Simon: 30-year old righty Alfredo Simon won’t have any off the field issues heading into spring training. He will battle for a starting job, but will likely land in the bullpen if he loses out in his bid to start in 2012. Simon pitched in 23 games (16 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 4-9 with a 4.90 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has now pitched in 78 games (19 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 8-12 with 17 saves, a 5.18 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP.

Brad Bergesen: 26-year old righty Brad Bergesen is going to try to win a job in the rotation this spring, but, if he loses out I see him winning a job in the bullpen. He pitched in 34 games (12 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 2-7 with a 5.70 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 83 games (59 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 17-24 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

Charles Tillman: 23-year old righty Chris Tillman will need to really impress the coaching staff if he’s going to win a job in the rotation this spring. Tillman pitched in 13 games (all starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 3-5 with a 5.52 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He has now pitched in 36 games (all starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 7-15 with a 5.58 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Tillman has a nice upside, but he’s going to have to start performing better for the Orioles to justify keeping him in the majors.

Brian Matusz: 24-year old lefty Brian Matusz was pathetic for the Orioles last year. He pitched in 12 games (all starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA and a 2.11 WHIP. Matusz has now pitched in 52 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Orioles and he is 16-23 with a 5.53 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Matusz is likely going to start the 2012 season in AAA and have to earn his way back to Baltimore.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: D

54-year old Buck Showalter arrived on the scene in the second half of the 2010 season and the Orioles looked good under him. Showalter led the Orioles to a 34-23 (59.6%) last season which should give the team momentum heading into 2011. The Orioles also made some trades and signed some reinforcements to improve the lineup, defense and bullpen. Showalter has a career record as a major league manager of 917-856 (51.7%) during the regular season and he is 3-6 (33.3%) in the post season. Showalter is aiming to get the Orioles back on the right path and I think he will in 2011.

The Orioles’ starting rotation might be on the young side, but the bullpen is going to be a battle-tested unit with a lot of experience. 32-year old Kevin Gregg will likely enter the 2011 season as the Orioles’ closer. Gregg pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 2-6 with 37 saves, a 3.51 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He has now pitched in 406 games (8 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 25-33 with 122 saves, a 4.03 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Gregg is not a lockdown closer by any means but most of the time he gets the job done.

If Gregg runs into any problems in 2011, the Orioles won’t hesitate to switch to 35-year old righty Koji Uehara to close. But at the start of the season, Uehara will be the main set up man for the Orioles. Uehara pitched in 43 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 1-2 with 13 saves, a 2.86 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He has now pitched in 55 games (12 starts) in his first two years with the Orioles and he is 3-6 with 13 saves, a 3.58 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Uehara has whiffed 103 batters while only walking 17 batters in his first 110 2/3 innings in the majors which shows just how aggressive he is. Don’t be shocked if Uehara gets more saves than Gregg in 2011.

32-year old lefty Mike Gonzalez was signed last year to be the Orioles’ closer but it just didn’t work out that way due to injuries. Gonzalez pitched in 29 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 1-3 with 1 save, a 4.01 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He has now pitched in 331 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 15-19 with 55 saves, a 2.68 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Gonzalez has only given up 231 hits in 305 1/3 innings so far in his major league career and he has 361 whiffs, which shows how nasty he can be when healthy.

27-year old righty Jim Johnson is a solid pitcher who can work in the middle innings or later in games if the Orioles need him to. Johnson pitched in 26 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 1-1 with 1 save, a 3.42 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has now pitched in 146 games (1 start) in his first five years with the Orioles and he is 7-12 with 12 saves, a 3.65 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Johnson will do a good job for the Orioles in 2011 as long as he can stay in one piece.

27-year old righty Jason Berken was awful in the rotation as a rookie in 2010 for the Orioles. But, they converted him to relief last season and he was very solid. Berken pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 3-3 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has now pitched in 65 games (24 starts) in his first two years with the Orioles and he is 9-15 with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Berken will likely do a decent job out of the pen for the Orioles in 2011.

29-year old righty Jeremy Accardo pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 0-1 with a 8.10 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. He also pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with 24 saves, a 3.48 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Accardo has now pitched in 204 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 7-17 with 38 saves, a 3.95 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Accardo might be a pleasant surprise for the Orioles if he gets the chance to help them out in 2011.

34-year old righty David Riske pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 0-0 with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has now pitched in 462 games (0 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 20-20 with 22 saves, a 3.67 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Riske often looks like a deer in headlights when working in close games, so if the Orioles use him in the middle innings he might be o.k.

36-year old lefty Mark Hendrickson pitched in 52 games (1 start) for the Orioles last year and he was 1-6 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has now pitched in 105 games (12 starts) in his first two years with the Orioles and he is 7-11 with 1 save, a 4.74 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Hendrickson is valuable because he can work more than one inning at a time if needed.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ORIOLES BULLPEN IN 2011: B

Three of the Orioles’ starting pitchers to start this year will be 25 years old or under. 31-year old righty Jeremy Guthrie heads into the 2011 season as the Orioles’ #1 starter. He started 32 games for the Orioles last season and he was 11-14 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has pitched in four years with the Orioles in which he has worked in 127 games (121 starts) and he is 38-48 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Guthrie is not your classic #1 starter but he’s got really good stuff and he doesn’t like to give in to hitters. With the improved offense and bullpen the Orioles have in place for 2011, don’t be surprised to see Guthrie win 15 or more games this year.

24-year old lefty Brian Matusz will be the O’s #2 starter when they break camp. He started 32 games for the Orioles last season and he was 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. In his first two years with the Orioles, Matusz has started 40 games in which he is 15-14 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He finished last season very strongly for the Orioles after Buck Showalter took over as the manager, so he could really improve in 2011 for the O’s.

25-year old righty Jake Arrieta had some issues in his first chance against major league hitters last year. He started 18 games for the Orioles last season and he was 6-6 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He walked 48 batters in 100 1/3 innings last season for the Orioles and that’s way too many. If the O’s get Arrieta throwing more strikes, he could be a big time pitcher for them because he has great stuff. He also pitched in 12 games (11 starts) in AAA-ball last season for the Orioles and he was 6-2 with a 1.85 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, which gives you a glimpse at his upside.

33-year old righty Justin Duchscherer was signed as a free agent over the winter. He started 5 games for the A’s last year and he was 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Duchscherer has only pitched in 5 games the last two years due to a bad hip. He has pitched in 224 games (32 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 33-25 with 14 saves, a 3.13 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Orioles hope that Duchscherer can stay healthy in 2011 because he’s a solid pitcher.

25-year old righty Brad Bergesen is penciled in as the O’s #5 starter heading into 2011. Bergesen pitched in 30 games (28 starts) for the Orioles last season and he was 8-12 with a 4.98 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Bergesen has now pitched in 49 games (47 starts) in his first two years with the Orioles and he is 15-17 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He will have to pitch well to keep his rotation spot because the Orioles have a lot of young pitchers in the minors who are almost ready to pitch in the show.

22-year old righty starting pitcher Chris Tillman will battle Bergesen for a spot in the starting rotation. He pitched in 11 games (all starts) for the Orioles last season and he was 2-5 with a 5.87 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He has now pitched in 23 games (all starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 4-10 with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. Tillman has a nice upside but it may be smart of the Orioles to leave him in the minors most of the 2011 season.

23-year old lefty Zach Britton comes into this season as the Orioles’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. Britton pitched in 27 games (26 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 10-7 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has now pitched in 105 games (103 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 37-28 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Britton could win a job in the rotation this spring as he has the highest upside of the Orioles’ minor league prospects.

23-year old righty Brandon Erbe comes into this season as the Orioles’ #27 prospect according to Baseball America. Erbe pitched in 15 games (all starts) in A+AAA-ball last season and he was 0-10 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. He ha now pitched in 128 games (117 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 28-45 with 1 save, a 4.43 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Erbe likely won’t make it to Baltimore this year.

25-year old righty Rick VandenHurk pitched in 9 games (1 start) for the Orioles & Marlins last season and he was 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 42 games (33 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 8-10 with a 5.86 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. VandenHurk has great stuff but he has never put everything together at the major league level.

25-year old lefty Troy Patton missed a lot of time recently to injury. He pitched in 25 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 8-11 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He also pitched in 1 game in relief for the Orioles last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. Patton has pitched in 4 games (2 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR ORIOLES STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: C-

27-year old lefty swinging RF Nick Markakis strikes me as a player who is overrated. He played in 160 games for the Orioles last season and he was 187 of 629 (.297 avg, .805 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 12 homers, 60 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Markakis is averaging 89.6 runs scored, 17.8 homers and 84.4 RBIs per year in his first five seasons for the Orioles and those are very average production numbers for a starting RF in major league baseball. Markakis is a good defensive RF as he only made 3 errors in 159 games there while showing off good range. He also has a decent throwing arm as he had 7 assists out in RF last season. Hopefully the better lineup around Markakis will help him increase his production numbers for the Orioles in 2011.

26-year old lefty swinging Felix Pie and 27-year old righty Nolan Reimold would probably platoon in RF if Nick Markakis goes down to injury. Pie played in 2 games in RF where he showed out of this world range and he had 1 assist. Reimold played in 2 error-free games in RF last season for the Orioles. They are both solid hitters and each is capable of giving Markakis a day off if need be.

36-year old switch hitting Randy Winn is going to have a hard time making the Orioles this spring. He played in 116 games for the Cardinals & Yankees last season and he was 49 of 205 (.239 avg, .663 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 4 homers, 25 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Winn has a .284 career batting average with a .759 OPS in his first 13 years in the majors, so he can hit a lot better than he showed last year. Winn didn’t make any errors in 46 games in RF last season and he showed outstanding range there. But, he didn’t have any assists, so runners take the extra base quite often against him.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ORIOLES RFs IN 2011: B