Is Bundy still a trade chip? (Shepherd joining O's)

Another day passed without the Orioles making a trade, and they aren't in desperation mode to beat the deadline. They'll continue to make and receive calls, with a handful of players on the roster drawing varying levels of interest. And they'll have an entire offseason to revisit talks and open new lines of communication.

Dylan Bundy has been described as one of the trade chips, but I keep hearing that there isn't much of a market for him. I'll also stress again that no one in the media is invited inside the office of executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. No one is given the code to a conference call. And deals can be agreed upon quickly just as there appears to be little or no traction.

Taking all of this into account, it seems as though the Orioles would have to be willing to sell extremely low in a Bundy trade. Unless it's a pure salary dump, with Bundy making $2.8 million this season and headed toward another bump because of his arbitration eligibility, it makes more sense to hold onto him and hope he has a strong finish that might alleviate some concerns among rival executives.

There's also the matter of punching another big hole in the rotation with Andrew Cashner already gone and John Means twice going on the injured list, the latter again expected to miss only one start but perhaps needing to be protected more in his first full season in the majors.

One relief appearance last September isn't even a blip.

I don't know that further stripping down the rotation influences Elias' thinking. He's mentioned how the potential fallout doesn't go ignored. That it's a complication. But he's never said that he'd absolutely refuse to part with both Cashner and Bundy in the same summer.

Make him an offer.

I don't believe that they're pouring in for Bundy. At least, that's the vibe I'm getting from outside the organization.

Bundy is learning to pitch without the high-90s fastball. With more dependence on his secondary stuff. He's 5-11 with a 5.24 ERA, 1.379 WHIP and 23 home runs surrendered in 103 innings.

Following up on a quality start in Arizona after coming off the injured list, Bundy faced the Angels in Anaheim and allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings. He gave up two more home runs.

Is there a contender who believes that he'd move the needle?

I think he stays, and we'll find out real soon.

* Jonathan Villar, a more likely candidate to change teams, had one of the biggest hits of the season with his two-run homer Thursday night in the 16th inning to beat the Angels. He was credited with hitting the latest go-ahead home run in club history, a note that proved incorrect.

Adam Jones homered in the 17th inning in Boston on May 6, 2012.

The game was tied 6-6 heading into the 17th. Former Orioles first-round pick Darnell McDonald, an outfielder, served up the three-run shot to Jones.

The at-bat tends to be forgotten because everyone talks about Chris Davis earning the win in relief.

So Jones holds the record? Nope.

Have we also forgotten about catcher Andy Etchebarren?

Etchebarren homered off the Senators' Bob Priddy in the 19th inning on June 4, 1967 at Memorial Stadium.

The Orioles scored four runs in the second inning and the Senators countered with five off Steve Barber in the top of the third. Washington was shut down the rest of the way by Wally Bunker (3 2/3 innings), Eddie Watt (five), Eddie Fisher (three) and Stu Miller (five).

Eddie Watt pitched five innings? I remember him only as a closer, if that term was used, and the guy who surrendered the home run to the Reds' Lee May in Game 4 of the 1970 World Series.

Anyway, the Orioles tied the game in the seventh on Curt Blefary's RBI single and neither side blinked until the 19th.

Brooks Robinson led off with a single against Priddy and Etchebarren followed with his fifth homer of the season.

It wasn't Priddy, but the Orioles won.

Note: Pitcher Chandler Shepherd joined the Orioles today. They could option David Hess, who started last night. Also, outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. left last night's game after reinjuring his left calf. But it might be hard to get a position player to the West Coast for a day game.