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Report: Fowler possible for Orioles if they sign Gallardo

Rob Tringali/Sportschrome / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Baltimore Orioles' front office appears to have strong interest in filling out their remaining roster holes through the free-agent market.

Following an earlier report Wednesday that the Orioles were making progress on a three-year deal with Yovani Gallardo, sources told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that signing outfielder Dexter Fowler is another possibility should Baltimore complete a deal with the right-hander.

Buster Olney of ESPN reported that it's expected a possible Gallardo deal will fall in the range of $40-$45 million, while the Orioles' interest in Fowler would likely be around a two-year, $20-million contract.

Rosenthal added that the Orioles also like free-agent infielder Pedro Alvarez and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce, though they might not have the prospects to match in a deal with Cincinnati.

Signing Gallardo would force Baltimore to sacrifice its first-round draft pick (14th overall) to the Texas Rangers after the veteran starter rejected a qualifying offer from the team in November. Fowler is also tied to draft-pick compensation after rejecting a qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs.

The Orioles' farm system has been depleted in recent years, and general manager Dan Duquette said earlier this offseason that he's been reluctant to deal away any remaining prospects or picks.

"We made a number of trades to keep our team in contention and have winning clubs the last four years and when you do that you have to give up good pitching from your farm system and we need the draft picks this year to help restock the farm system," Duquette said.

The Orioles were able to retain Chris Davis, Darren O'Day, and Matt Wieters this winter, but lost starter Wei-Yin Chen to free agency. They could still stand to add help in the corner outfield, as well as in the rotation.

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