Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Orioles have reached out to Matt Wieters about a multiyear contract extension, but adds that “there’s no evidence or belief that the sides are anywhere close to a deal.”
Heyman believes the offer is for at least five years, but doesn’t have the exact terms.
Wieters has seen the bar for top catchers raised in recent years, most recently with Giants 2012 MVP Buster Posey getting a $167 million, nine-year deal when he was four years from free agency. Wieters can’t come close to matching Posey’s offensive accomplishements, but he’s a two-time Gold Glove winner who is a middle-of-the-order hitter for Baltimore, and he’s a free agent after 2015.
“We’ll enjoy him as long as he’s here,” Dan Duquette told Heyman.
I’ve seen a lot of people freak out about that quote and imply that Duquette means Wieters will sign elsewhere after his contract expires in 2016. I wouldn’t worry yet though. Duquette keeps his cards close to his vest.
Now is definitely the time for the Orioles lockup Wieters long-term. He’s making $5.5 million this season during his first year of arbitration eligibility. Wieters hit .249/.329/.435 with 23 home runs and 83 RBI. He started the 2013 season with a two-run bomb of Cy Young award winner David Price.
It will take well over 100 million to keep Matt , in others words ‘say goodbye’,,,,,,,,,Dan is just speaking the truth , Peter the Great will not pay what the market demands for top catchers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
…Just like they didn’t keep Jones.
…Just like they didn’t pay Markakis.
…Just like they didn’t pay Roberts.
These guys are average players and really didn’t cost much , lets’ see what Peter the Great offers Matt , my guess is he goes north,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if any of these young pitchers make it big they too will follow him north,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,do not buy their jersey’s………………………
If the Orioles pay their players they are “average”, if they don’t pay them, the team is cheap.
Got it.
Spy reminds me of a 2 fer $10 ball salesman.
Can’t say Adam Jones is average… Orioles got a good deal on Markakis… Roberts got tainted money… Once off the juice the guy has gone in the tank…
I don’t see Wieters at $100mil but I do see him around $75mil which depending on the timing he may get. Wait a another year and Angelos will figure that Roberts money is off the books as well as Hardy coming up… Markakis is up in 2015.
Angelos HAS to pay Wieters but you never know with Angelos. I see the Orioles waiting to long to lock Wieters up and him walking… If they lock him up this year then of course he’s not going anywhere… After this year, all bets are off…
And you know Boras is thinking Yankees/Redsox who need catching and will have the duckets around that time. If Angelos has to compete with the Yanks and Redsox for Wieters then kiss Wieters goodbye because then I can see him getting over $100mil.
Big thing the O’s need to do is lock up Alex Casilla… Teams are already looking to free up money by cutting/trading players so that they have the money this winter to sign Casillas when he hits the open market. Huge loss if he leaves!