After huge losses, what's next for Orioles?

The winningest team in the American League East over the last three seasons keeps losing its players.

Only one club in baseball's glamour division has made the playoffs twice in the last three years, and it can't convince its free agents that the grass – or money – isn't greener elsewhere.

Prized reliever Andrew Miller became the third member of the Baltimore Orioles to fly the coop this offseason, following the path of outfielders Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. He signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the New York Yankees.

Each is an individual case, of course, but the collective exodus raises questions about the Orioles' ability to retain their top talent despite their run of success, and how long they can remain near the top when division rivals like the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are fortifying themselves.

Baltimore tied for the second-best record in the majors at 96-66 – and improved to 274-212 since the beginning of 2012 – on the strength of the majors' most prolific home run offense and AL manager of the year Buck Showalter's knack for extracting maximum production from his charges.

Now the Orioles are left to fill both corner spots in their outfield and huge holes in the lineup, not to mention two key figures in their harmonious clubhouse. Between them, Cruz – who led the majors with 40 homers and signed a four-year, $57 million contract with the Seattle Mariners – and Markakis accounted for 54 home runs, 158 RBI and 168 runs scored.

The club's one remaining starting outfielder, All-Star Adam Jones, was left scratching his head, tweeting, "U don't want my opinion!!!!!!!!'' after news broke Thursday of Markakis reaching agreement with the Atlanta Braves on a four-year, $44 million deal.

Jones later took a more hopeful tone in an interview with The Baltimore Sun.

"I mean, something has to be brewing in order for them to let Markakis go,'' Jones told The Sun. "I have to have the respect for the front office that they deserve. I have to see what Showalter and (executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette) have up their sleeves. … They better have something up their sleeves."

Markakis' departure was especially painful because he was the longest-tenured Oriole and appeared to be on the verge of reaching a deal with the club early in the offseason.

But those negotiations never reached fruition, maybe because the team was concerned about a neck issue Markakis has nursed for two years, perhaps because of his declining offensive performance – his on-base plus slugging percentage shrank from .834 in 2012 to .685 in 2013 and .729 last season – or possibly both.

Regardless, Markakis is a two-time Gold Glove-winning right fielder who led the Orioles in on-base percentage (.342) as their leadoff hitter. And even with his quiet nature, he was regarded as a key component of the clubhouse chemistry Showalter cherishes because of his longevity and work ethic. Markakis, 31, missed a total of just nine games the last two years.

Similarly Cruz, while a one-year rental, was an influential figure on the team, especially with the Latin players.

Cruz shed the stigma of his 50-game suspension for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal to become an integral part of the Orioles' drive to the AL East title, leading the team in RBI and OPS and finishing seventh in the league MVP voting.

So far, the Orioles' attempts to replace them have fallen short, with veteran outfielder Torii Hunter turning them down in favor of returning to the Minnesota Twins.

Miller, who registered a 1.35 ERA in 23 games with Baltimore after arriving in a deadline trade, may not be as hard to replace because he wasn't around long and the Orioles have several promising young arms. But losing him without compensation to the New York Yankees would only add to Baltimore's talent drain.

As it stands right now, the Orioles' starting outfield would be made up of Jones, Alejandro de Aza and either Steve Pearce or David Lough.

Duquette has pointed out the roster will be bolstered by the return of three players with All-Star pedigree in third baseman Manny Machado, catcher Matt Wieters and first baseman Chris Davis. The first two are coming back from major injuries, while Davis was suspended late in the season for amphetamine use.

Duquette's point is valid. However, it also bears noting that Wieters and Davis will be entering their walk year. What impact that has on their performance will be one of the stories to watch next season, as the Orioles try to duplicate or improve on their best season since 1997.

But just as interesting will be what happens afterward, and whether Baltimore's charms continue to be lost on the Orioles' players.