It’s all over.
SportsNet.ca’s Shi Davidi reports that the Orioles asked for 2014 first round draft pick Jeff Hoffman and two other prospects for Duquette.
[quote_box_center]The Blue Jays are believed to have been willing to offer a package of minor-leaguers similar to past precedents – think fringe right-hander Chris Carpenter going from the Chicago Cubs to the Boston Red Sox for Theo Epstein – with the baseball departments of both clubs negotiating the names once a deal for Duquette was reached, and Major League Baseball acting as a mediator if needed (as it did in the Epstein case).
It’s believed that at no point did the Blue Jays put forth any names for consideration.[/quote_box_center]
Davidi adds that the Jays have moved on from Duquette and are focusing their efforts to replace Paul Beeston elsewhere.
So now what?
Duquette never publicly stated that he wanted to pursue the job in Toronto, though several reports indicated that was the case. That makes any tampering allegations against the Blue Jays difficult to prove.
How much have these negotiations strained relationships in the Orioles front office? Remember, Duquette is signed with the Orioles through 2018. Should it be expected that everything goes back to normal now that negotiations with the Jays have ended?
We’re just a week away from Orioles FanFest, the atmosphere could get pretty tense at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Never a dull moment an O’s fan, huh?