For a team that just landed three Gold Gloves in J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters, the Orioles didn’t rank particularly high in overall American League defensive categories.

They committed the fifth-highest number of errors in the league, 106. And they ranked 10th in fielding percentage at .983.

The Orioles did tighten considerably on defense in the second half of the season.

*Speaking of defense, the Phillies declined the option on former Oriole Ty Wigginton. Maybe they really wanted to pick it up, but when they gave it to Wigginton, he dropped it.

*More seriously, another former Oriole, Aubrey Huff of the world champion Giants, also will not have his option picked up. It was for $10 million, and Huff had been relegated to a part-time role and also hit under .200. He spent an early part of the season on the disabled list dealing with anxiety disorder. At 35, he could decide to retire.

*MLB.com lists possible Orioles free agent Joe Saunders as among the third tier of pitchers who could be on the market. He’s lumped with Roy Oswalt as a veteran “who may have something left in the tank.”

*The Orioles have five days, not three, to decide on first baseman Mark Reynolds’ option, reports MASN’s Roch Kubatko. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s too large at $11 million and that his return would have to be for a much smaller figure.