Now here’s a story I didn’t expect to see today – the Toronto Blue Jays are looking to replace president and CEO Paul Beeston, and one of their top targets is Orioles GM Dan Duquette.
Sources: The Blue Jays' ownership is actively seeking a replacement for longtime CEO Paul Beeston. Dan Duquette among candidates discussed.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 7, 2014
Sources: #Orioles GM Dan Duquette a top candidate to be #BlueJays’ president. Move would be a promotion. Difficult for O’s to stand in way.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2014
Duquette was one of the big reasons for Baltimore’s success over the past three seasons, helping overhaul the club’s roster and creating a team that has won at least 85 games in three straight years for the first time in 30 years.
However, this could be as good a time as any for Duquette to leave Baltimore. The Orioles have already lost outfielders Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis this winter. The club has some tough decisions coming on the future of both Chris Davis and Matt Wieters, free agents after 2015. Duquette might feel that the time is right for him to make his second stop north of the border and his third stop in the AL East.
Duquette signed a four-year contract extension with the Orioles in January of 2013 that hasn’t even kicked in yet, so it’s not even clear if the club would be willing to let him leave. It’s clear that Toronto has their sights set high to replace Beeston, but targeting Duquette could simply be a pipe dream for them.
