Orioles' Duquette unfazed after losing out on Fowler
On Thursday, Dexter Fowler decided to re-sign with the Chicago Cubs - contrary to reports that he agreed to terms with the Baltimore Orioles on a three-year deal Tuesday night.
Dan Duquette, the Orioles' president of baseball operations, isn't sweating it, though.
"I'm confident we will be able to find some players that want to come and contribute to the team," he told MASN's Roch Kubatko after the Cubs announced a new one-year deal with Fowler (that includes a mutual option for 2017).
Related: Fowler spurns Orioles, agrees to 1-year deal with Cubs
Despite making what was, in his mind, a "very competitive offer" - reports indicated it was worth $33 million over three years - Duquette said the two parties never agreed to terms because Fowler kept insisting on receiving an opt-out clause after the 2016 campaign. Unwilling to forfeit a draft pick (after already giving one up to sign Yovani Gallardo) for a player liable to leave after one season, the Orioles balked.
"I don't see - club ownership doesn’t see - the value in that type of arrangement to the Orioles," said Duquette.
"Our fans want to know that the guys that are playing for the Orioles (are) playing for the Orioles, that they’re committed to the team," Duquette said.
Fowler was ostensibly committed to Baltimore earlier this week, but with the switch-hitting outfielder now gearing up for another summer at Wrigley Field, the Orioles remain beset with the same hole in right field they struggled to fill last year. Barring another addition, the Orioles may be forced to rely on some combination of Mark Trumbo, Nolan Reimold, and Joey Rickard in right, with newcomer Hyun-soo Kim expected to play left field every day.