This string of familiar-looking off-season moves made by the Baltimore Orioles might just make some sense this year. Mike Gonzalez, Garrett Atkins, Kevin Millwood are all quality complimentary pieces, but the core group they’re complimenting is finally good enough to make their presence worthwhile.

Brian Roberts, Matt Wieters and Adam Jones give the O’s strength up the middle for years to come; Nick Markakis is the steady, face-of-the-franchise type in right field; and young pitchers Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman represent perhaps the most talented young pitching duo in the Major Leagues.

Millwood, along with staff ace Jeremy Guthrie, brings the rotation together and can help speed up the learning curves of Matusz and Tillman. For the first time in a downtrodden decade, the Orioles’ staff might just be able to get professional hitters out on a consistent basis. And it certainly helps that the team’s defense has taken a step forward with Jones and Felix Pie roaming center and left field, respectively.

Atkins is yet another solid veteran to surround Baltimore’s young nucleus. Throw him in a group with Luke Scott and utility man Ty Wigginton as 30-somethings who make quality contributions to a lineup, but can’t carry it. The heavy lifting, especially beyond 2010, will be up to Roberts, Wieters, Jones, Markakis and semi-young slugger Nolan Reimold.

Gonzalez takes a prominent role in an Orioles’ bullpen that has decent arms, but lacks any kind of name recognition. It’s a group that won’t be a glaring strength or a glaring weakness and, for now, a middle-of-the-road relief corps will be just fine.

The Orioles are taking steps in the right direction, rather than making senseless signings for the sake of being active.

There’s a group coming together in Baltimore that could push the 80-win mark this season and soar past it in the not-so-distant future. The aim, possibly come 2011 or 2012, will be to make an improbable, Tampa Bay Rays-type run at the American League East title. The pieces are starting to fall in place to finally make that pipe dream possible.

In terms of fantasy, Baltimore provides a good opportunity to a number of players. Jones, Roberts and Markakis are the proven hitting commodities, but we also expect Wieters to break out in a big way this season. Atkins is worth buying late because he does get a fresh start in another hitter’s park after losing his job in Colorado.

Matusz and Tillman are probably still a year away from being trustworthy fantasy starters, but don’t lose sight of them in drafts and on the waiver wire. They’re big-time talents.

Reimold is also worth monitoring in the spring, to see if he can lay claim to a majority of at-bats in left field. He’ll have to swing the bat to nudge Pie to a bench role, because the 24-year-old Pie is a known commodity as a rangy, skillful defender.

Gonzalez is in a good situation to be a realistic 30-saves candidate. Health is again the theme for his season, because he’s proven that he can both effectively close games and strike hitters out at a high rate. There’s some value to be had as middle-tier closer with question marks.