Skip to main content

Orioles reportedly willing to trade Matt Wieters

Matt Wieters will be a free agent in two years. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Matt Wieters will be a free agent in two years. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles are willing to trade catcher Matt Wieters, according to a tweet Wednesday afternoon from Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal.

The news comes a day after the annual general managers meeting in Orlando, Fla., and less than a week after Rosenthal reported that the two-time All-Star and agent Scott Boras aren't eager to agree on a contract extension with the Orioles when his contract is up in two years.

LEMIRE: Window for Tigers may be closing, but they shouldn't trade Scherzer

According to that report, Baltimore has been at least "exploring the market" for backups to Wieters, who batted only .214 with a .628 OPS from the left side last season. According to Rosenthal, one of the players the Orioles could look to acquire is 28-year-old Boston Red Sox free agent Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who signed a one-year contract with Boston before last season.

Boras' players often like to explore free agency, but Wieters' OPS has dropped .778 to .764 to .704 over the past three seasons, which could compel Baltimore to keep him for now.

SI WIRE: Atlanta to demolish Turner Field after Braves leave in 2017