"Between ordering lunch and taking a dip in the pool yesterday, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones joked that he once worried he no longer would be invited to David Ortiz' annual charity golf event.

"Remember he had that thing with (Kevin) Gregg?" Jones said, referring to a dugouts-clearing brawl between Ortiz and the Orioles closer July 8 at Fenway Park. "I went up to him the day after, gave him a big hug, and said, 'This doesn't change anything, right? I can still come to the Dominican.'?"

Jones is among several AL East rivals who are attending Ortiz' gathering this weekend. Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista and ace left-hander Ricky Romero also are here, and after years of playing against Ortiz, each said he would happily join forces with the free agent designated hitter.

The Jays have expressed at least some interest in signing Ortiz.

"I think any pitcher would want him in their lineup," Romero said. "We know what he brings to the table. He's a special player. He can hit a baseball. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Blue Jay uniform."

Added Bautista: "I think he's very capable still, even though he's at the latter stages of his career. He's shown he's arguably the best designated hitter in the game, and his numbers prove it. I'm not just being nice. He's got the stats to back everything up."

Indeed, Ortiz, who turned 36 last month, batted .309 with 29 homers last season and posted his best OPS (.953) since 2007.

"His presence, what he means in a lineup, what he brings to the table, I would just really be happy to have a guy like him hitting behind me," said Bautista, who has a major league-best 97 home runs the past two seasons. "The possibilities would be endless for what we could do with our team if we insert him in the lineup.""