Orioles GM Duquette confident payroll will increase

Things are only looking up for the Baltimore Orioles. 

The Orioles won the American League East for the first time since 1997. They accomplished the task with a 96-win season and advanced to the AL Championship Series for just the third time since capturing the 1983 World Series. 

That success, coupled with ownership's spending blitz last offseason, has general manager Dan Duquette believing his team's payroll will rise once again.

"We've increased our payroll over the last couple years," Duquette said Friday, according to The Baltimore Sun's Eduardo Encina. "I expect we have the foundation for an additional increase."

According to Baseball Prospectus' Cot's Contracts, the Orioles had an Opening Day payroll north of $80 million twice from 2000-09. The high-water mark was in 2007 at $93 million before the club's payroll dropped below $70 million in the following two seasons. 

Since then, the organization has steadily invested more money into its major league roster, including 2014 when it had its highest payroll in franchise history.

"However we invest (in payroll), we’re going to give (the fans) the most competitive and compelling and entertaining team we can," Duquette added. 

In addition to looking outside for help, the Orioles will face the challenge of trying to retain impending free agent Nelson Cruz, who led the majors with 40 homers. He signed a one-year deal with Baltimore in the offseason. 

The Orioles also intend to decline the $17.5 million club option on right fielder Nick Markakis, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.