Dan Duquette, the executive vice president of the Baltimore Orioles, discussed Thursday the atypical offseason he's endured, wherein the Blue Jays reportedly tried to pry him away from Baltimore for a loftier position in Toronto.
"It's been interesting," Duquette told Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. "I'm not used to being a trade rumor."
The Blue Jays were reportedly interested in acquiring Duquette to replace longtime president and CEO Paul Beeston, and even discussed a compensation package with the Orioles for the 56-year-old executive.
Negotiations broke down, however, when the Blue Jays refused to part with either Jeff Hoffman or Max Pentecost - both selected in the first round of the 2014 draft - in exchange for Duquette, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.
Shortly after negotiations fizzled, the Blue Jays announced a one-year contract extension with Beeston. Duquette reaffirmed his commitment to the Orioles on Thursday.
"I've always done my job 24 hours a days to the best of my ability," Duquette said.