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Report: Orioles won't offer Span multi-year deal

Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles remain interested in Denard Span, even after signing Korean outfielder Hyun-soo Kim to a two-year, $7-million deal. However, the club reportedly isn't willing to offer the 31-year-old anything longer than a one-year contract, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko.

Span, a Scott Boras client, is most assuredly seeking a multi-year deal, though, despite appearing in a career-low 61 games in 2015 before being denied a one-year, $15.8-million qualifying offer from the Washington Nationals.

Though he missed considerable time this past season with a variety of hip and back problems, Span ranks 22nd among outfielders with 12.2 WAR over the last four years, hitting .290/.344/.402 (105 OPS+) with 79 stolen bases and 10 defensive runs saved over that span. Still, the Orioles have concerns about his durability, and aren't necessarily convinced he'd pass the club's notoriously tough physical.

Season OBP BB% K% wRC+
2012 .342 8.3% 10.9% 104
2013 .327 6.3% 11.6% 96
2014 .355 7.5% 9.7% 117
2015 .365 9.1% 9.5% 120

Boras mentioned earlier this week that Span, who led the National League in hits in 2014, will hold a showcase for interested clubs some time after Jan. 1.

"The interest for Denard is broad," Boras said. "There's many, many teams that need a leadoff hitter and many teams that need a center fielder. And obviously, he had the same hip procedure in July that a number of players have had, (Alex) Gordon and such. He's in good health. He's running, he's working out, he's doing baseball activities, and clubs have been down to see him and I would suspect that Denard will be signing a contract here in the very near future."

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