The Orioles don’t want Jose Bautista because their fans dislike him

The Orioles were blunt about why they didn‘t have interest in free agent slugger Jose Bautista.

The Orioles were blunt about why they didn‘t have interest in free agent slugger Jose Bautista: They don’t think their fans like him very much.

General manager Dan Duquette told Toronto’s SportsNet 590 that the opinions of Baltimore fans about the rival Blue Jays slugger swayed the team’s line of thinking, and that they had no problem telling that to Bautista’s camp.

Duquette: "We told (Bautista's) agent that we are not interested because our fans don't like him." #Bluejays #Jays #Orioles

— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) December 7, 2016

Duquette: "Our fans don't like Jose Bautista - with good reason." #Bluejays #Jays #Orioles @JoeyBats19

— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) December 7, 2016

Duquette: " "Of course, that may change (if the price comes down). But the QO makes things difficult." #Bluejays #Jays #Orioles @JoeyBats19

— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) December 7, 2016

The other reason is that Bautista, in turning down Toronto’s qualifying offer, guaranteed the Jays draft-pick compensation from his new team should he leave.

Maybe this is creative negotiation from Baltimore. The fans, you think, might come around in the end. Only at a discount, though, of course.