Orioles owner denies report that Jays near trade for GM Dan Duquette
Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos denied a report that the Toronto Blue Jays are nearing a trade for Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette.
Tony Paul of The Detroit Newsreported the trade Wednesday, after Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the two teams have discussed a compensation package that would send Duquette to Toronto and allow him to become the Blue Jays' CEO.
Angelos told the Baltimore Sun that the Jays have expressed interest in Duquette, but that the Orioles are "not negotiating with them in any way."
"That is not going to happen. There have not been any changes in the status of Dan Duquette. He is our GM and he is going to remain our GM,” Angelos said. "He is concentrating on his efforts to determine the composition of our team for 2015. That is the answer. Period."
Rosenthal reported that the ongoing rumors of Duquette's possible interest in the Blue Jays have created an "uncomfortable situation" in Toronto.
Duquette is under contract with the Orioles through 2018. He has been linked to Toronto since December, when it was reported that the Blue Jays were interested in replacing president/CEO Paul Beeston, the first employee hired by the franchise in 1976.
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On Dec. 7, Rosenthal reported that Duquette wanted to leave Baltimore for the Toronto job, and that while some members of the club would not be opposed to his departure, owner Pete Angelos was standing in his way.
Duquette was hired by the Orioles in 2011, and previously held similar positions with the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox. He first signed a three-year contract before signing an extension through 2018 in January 2013.
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After going 69-93 in 2011, the Orioles began their marked improvement by posting a 93-69 record in 2012 and reaching the postseason for the first time since 1997. Baltimore also made the playoffs in 2014 after winning the AL East for the first time since 1997 and going 96-66.
The Blue Jays went 83-79 in 2014, finishing third in the AL East and with their best record since 2007.
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