BALTIMORE - Dave Trembley can remove the interim tag from his title. From now until at least the end of the 2007 season, he's simply the manager of the Baltimore Orioles.

Newly-named Baltimore Orioles interim manager Dave Trembley smiles at a news conference in San Diego in this June 19, 2007 file photo. The former bullpen coach, who took over for fired manager Sam Perlozzo on June 18, has earned the right to finish the season, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

The former bullpen coach, who took over for fired manager Sam Perlozzo on June 18, has earned the right to finish the season, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Tuesday.

Baltimore was 29-40 and had lost eight in row when Perlozzo was dismissed. Entering Tuesday night's game in Boston, the Orioles were 20-15 under Trembley, including a six-game winning streak that ended Sunday.

Almost immediately after Trembley was made the interim manager, MacPhail began negotiating with former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi to take the job. Girardi ultimately declined a three-year contract, and MacPhail said he would not address the managerial situation again until the conclusion of the non-waiver trade deadline.

The deadline passed Tuesday afternoon without Baltimore making a deal, in part because MacPhail didn't want to break up a team that had surged under the direction of Trembley.

"I think it's pretty self-evident that we won't be making any managerial changes in-season," MacPhail said. "Certainly, Dave has really done a very nice job with the team."

MacPhail said the decision to keep Trembley in charge was "partially based on the respect the players have given him. I wanted somebody that would have our team prepared, give a strong effort and have a high energy level. I'm pleased with all those things."

The 55-year-old Trembley spent the last four of his 20 years as minor league manager in the Baltimore organization. He was hired to be the bullpen coach this season, but before Perlozzo was fired, Trembley served as bench coach on occasion while Tom Trebelhorn returned to Arizona to tend to his ailing wife.

Whether Trembley maintains the job beyond the 2007 season will be determined in part on how the Orioles fare in August and September, MacPhail said.

Baltimore is seeking to end a franchise-record run of nine straight losing seasons, and Trembley will certainly enhance his chances of keeping the job if he can make that happen.

MacPhail, who was formally hired on June 20, worked hard to make a trade Tuesday. But he said 90 percent of the teams that called wanted someone from Baltimore's young pitching staff, most notably Erik Bedard, whom he considered to be virtually untouchable.

"I would have had to have been extraordinarily overwhelmed (to deal Bedard)," MacPhail said. "There is nothing more precious out there than young starting pitching, and we're pretty fortunate in that we have some."