- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
O’s focus turns to returning to playoffs in ’17
- Updated: October 7, 2016
BALTIMORE — Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter addressed several topics during their end-of-season press conference Thursday, including the possibility that the team will make qualifying offers to top free agents Mark Trumbo and Matt Wieters as they look to return to the playoffs in 2017.
“It’s under consideration,” Duquette said. “They both had good years. I’m not sure that qualifying offer system is going to be in place. That’s up for discussion between the Players Association and Major League Baseball. We’ll have to see where they come out on that issue.”
Wieters signed his one-year qualifying offer last offseason, and the Orioles obtained Trumbo in a trade with the Mariners. Both should draw plenty of interest on the free-agent market, and it isn’t certain that the Orioles can bring them back.
The Orioles have already approached Chris Tillman and Manny Machado twice regarding contract extensions, according to Duquette, but they haven’t yet broached the subject with Jonathan Schoop. However, talks with the second baseman could begin in the coming months.
Duquette …
