Buck ShowalterBuck Showalter boldly came out against a report that Major League Baseball is considering slapping Alex Rodriguez with a lifetime ban for the Yankees third baseman’s involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. The Orioles skipper told the USA Today that he doesn’t want A-Rod to be suspended indefinitely because it would allow the Yankees to be free from the financial constraints surrounding his contract.

“If they can reset, they can spend again and I guarantee you in two years Matt Wieters is in New York,” Showalter added.

Upon seeing his quote make national headlines, Showalter told Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun that he didn’t expect his candid comments to be printed. “I said it and someone decided to print it,” Showalter said. “It’s unfortunate, but what are you going to do? … It all boils out from the idea that we’d like Matt to be with us. We like him.”

Somehow A-Rod’s mess has managed to spill over to the Orioles locker room. As DJ Short of HardballTalk.com reports, Wieters was asked by USA Today about Showalter’s comments and his upcoming free agency after the 2015 season.