The Baltimore Orioles have picked up 34-year old righty reliever Luis Ayala’s club option for 2013 valued at $1 million bucks. Ayala pitched in 66 games (0 starts) for the Orioles in 2012 and he was 5-5 with 1 save, a 2.64 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He has now pitched in 495 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 36-46 with 19 saves, a 3.35 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. This was a smart move for the Orioles as Ayala is going to be a bargain for them in 2013 if he pitches anywhere near as good as he did last year.

The Orioles have declined 29-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Mark Reynolds’ option for 2013 valued at $11 million bucks. They have paid him a $500,000 dollar buyout and they still could re-sign him if they want to as they still have him under team control via arbitration. Reynolds played in 135 games for the Orioles last year and he was 101 of 457 (.221 avg, .763 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 23 homers, 69 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has played in 290 games in his two years with the Orioles and he is 219 of 991 (.221 avg, .786 OPS) with 149 runs scored, 60 homers, 155 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see if the Orioles decide to bring back Reynolds for 2013.

UPDATE: (12/1/2012) - The Orioles have decided not to tender a contract to Mark Reynolds, making him a free agent.

The Orioles have released 30-year old lefty starter/reliever Dontrelle Willis. Willis pitched in 4 games (1 start) in AAA-ball for the Orioles last year and he was 0-3 with a 8.53 ERA and a 2.21 WHIP. He has pitched in 205 games (202 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 72-69 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. This is absolutely no loss for the Orioles and it could signal the end of Willis’ career.

The Baltimore Orioles have four guys to make decisions on this winter. Here is how I see those decisions shaking out:

Mark Reynolds: The Orioles have a club option for 2013 on 29-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Mark Reynolds worth $11 million bucks, or they could buy him out for $500,000 bucks. Reynolds played in 135 games for the Orioles last year and he was 101 of 457 (.221 avg, .763 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 23 homers, 69 RBIs and 1 stolen base. VERDICT: LEAVING

Joe Saunders: 31-year old lefty starting pitcher Joe Saunders pitched in 7 games (all starts) for the Orioles and he was 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He pitched in 28 games (all starts) overall last year for the Orioles and Diamondbacks and he was 9-13 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. VERDICT: STAYING

Jim Thome: 42-year old lefty swinging DH Jim Thome just couldn’t stay healthy last year. He played in 28 games for the Orioles last year and he was 26 of 101 (.257 avg, .744 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs. Thome played in 58 games overall last year for the Phillies and Orioles in which he was 41 of 163 (.252 avg, .786 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 8 homers and 25 RBIs. VERDICT: LEAVING

Luis Ayala: 34-year old righty reliever Luis Ayala pitched pretty well for the Orioles last year. He pitched in 66 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 5-5 with 1 save, a 2.64 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. VERDICT: STAYING

The Orioles have lost 31-year old righty swinging catcher Ronny Paulino to free agency. Paulino played in 20 games for the Orioles last year and he was 16 for 63 (.254 avg, .567 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 0 homers and 5 RBIs. He has now played in 573 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 508 of 1,867 (.272 avg, .700 OPS) with 181 runs scored, 33 homers, 216 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Paulino will have little trouble finding a new job over the winter.

The Orioles have lost 28-year old lefty reliever/starter Dana Eveland as he has elected to become a free agent. Eveland pitched in 14 games (2 starts) for the Orioles this year and he was 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He has now pitched in 114 games (61 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 19-25 with 1 save, a 5.46 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Eveland will have no trouble finding a minor league deal with a new team over the winter.

The Baltimore Orioles finished in second place in the A.L.East, only 2 games behind the Yankees with a 93-69 (57.4%) record. They then won the Wild Card Game against the Rangers to advance to the playoffs against the Yankees. The Yankees won a hard fought five game series over the Orioles, to end their season. Here is a look at the players who made the biggest impacts in 2012, in my opinion:

Team MVP: Adam Jones - 27-year old righty swinging CF Adam Jones put everything together in 2012. He played in 162 games for the Orioles last year and he was 186 of 648 (.287 avg, .839 OPS) with 103 runs scored, 32 homers, 82 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

Best Pitcher: Jim Johnson - The Orioles won a lot of close games in 2012, and 29-year old righty closer Jim Johnson had a lot to do with that. Johnson pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 2-1 with 51 saves, a 2.49 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He only gave up 55 hits and 15 walks in 68 2/3 innings for the Orioles this year while whiffing 41 batters.

Biggest Surprise: Chris Tillman - 24-year old righty starting pitcher Chris Tillman might not have been in the playoff rotation for the Orioles, but he turned in a great year for them. Tillman pitched in 15 games (all starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 9-3 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Tillman only gave up 66 hits and 24 walks in 86 innings last year while whiffing 66….which is pretty impressive.

Biggest Disappointment: Jake Arrieta - 26-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Arrieta just continues to disappoint for the Orioles. He pitched in 24 games (18 starts) in which he was 3-9 with a 6.20 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

The Orioles’ pitchers did their job last night, but the offense couldn’t muster much off of Yankees’ starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia. Jason Hammel was the losing pitcher as he worked the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 2 walks and he whiffed 6 batters. Troy Patton had a rough go of it as he gave up a homer to Curtis Granderson. Patton gave up 1 hit, 1 run (it was earned) while whiffing 3 batters and walking none in only 1 1/3 innings. Pedro Strop and Brian Matusz combined to work a scoreless 8th inning for the Orioles last night. Nate McLouth (1 for 4), Matt Wieters (1 for 3 with a run scored and a walk), Lew Ford (1 for 3 with an RBI) and Robert Andino (1 for 3) led the way for the O’s with the bats last night. The Orioles were only 4 of 30 (.133 avg) with 2 walks and 9 whiffs in this game. The Orioles’ season is now over as they lost this series 3-2.

The Orioles got outstanding pitching and just enough hitting to beat the Yankees in the Bronx last night. Joe Saunders started last night and he was rock solid, working the first 5 2/3 innings allowing 3 hits, 4 walks and 1 run (it was earned) while whiffing 5 batters. Tommy Hunter, Troy Patton, Luis Ayala and Brian Matusz combined to work 1 2/3 scoreless innings in this game. Darren O’Day was next up and he was downright nasty, working 2 2/3 scoreless innings without giving up any hits, walking 1 batter and whiffing 1. Pedro Strop was also outstanding, working 2 shutout innings allowing only 1 hit while whiffing 2 batters and earning the win. Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless 13th inning to save this game for the Orioles. Nate McLouth (2 for 5 with 1 run scored, a walk, a double, a homer and 1 RBI), J.J. Hardy (2 for 6 with a double and 1 RBI) and Manny Machado (1 for 4 with a walk, a double and 1 run scored) led the way offensively for the Orioles in this game. The Orioles were only 8 for 46 (.174 avg) with 3 walks and 12 whiffs last night, but it was just enough to win, thanks to the pitching staff. The Orioles are now tied with the Yankees at two wins apiece with a deciding Game #5 later today.

The Orioles lost a game that they should have won last night. Miguel Gonzalez was awesome for the Orioles last night, working the first 7 innings in which he allowed 5 hits, no walks, 1 run (it was earned) while whiffing 8 batters. He was in line to be the winning pitcher, but that just didn’t happen. Darren O’Day worked a flawless 8th inning while whiffing 1 batter. Jim Johnson gave up a game tying homer in the 9th inning to Raul Ibanez who was pinch hitting for Alex Rodriguez. Johnson worked 2 innings allowing only 1 hit (it was a big one), 1 run (it was earned) and he whiffed 1 batter. Brian Matusz worked a flawless 11th inning but he was greeted by a walk-off homer in the 12th inning to Raul Ibanez. The Orioles couldn’t muster much offense last night as they were only 7 for 40 (.175 avg) with 1 walk. Nate McLouth (2 for 5 with a stolen base), Ryan Flaherty (1 for 3 with a solo homer) and Manny Machado (1 for 3 with a solo homer) led the way for the Orioles with the bats in this game. The Orioles are down 2-1 to the Yankees now with Game #4 tonight.