GM update 2; Baird out, Duquette a serious candidate; Oppenheimer in mix
Here’s as much as I know about the Orioles’ GM search.
Dan Duquette, the former Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos’ GM, interviewed Friday. My sense is that he is a serious candidate for this position based on his track record and experience.
He’s been out of big-league circles since 2002, but he also was interviewed by the Los Angeles Angels this winter for the GM job that ultimately went to Jerry Dipoto, the first candidate that the Orioles interviewed for their vacant post.
Duquette, 53, obviously wants back into the majors and the Orioles want somebody with a strong scouting and development background that, frankly, does not have a better job to run back to. It is starting to seem to me that this could be a real fit – but I’m officially out of the prediction business.
Duquette was the sixth candidate interviewed – only three remain -- and the Orioles could talk to one more: New York Yankees’ vice president Damon Oppenheimer.
They wanted to talk to Boston Red Sox vice president Allard Baird, but he issued a statement Friday saying he declined the interview due to loyalty to the Red Sox and new GM Ben Cherington.
They also had interest in Minnesota Twins’ vice president Mike Radcliff, but have been denied permission. MASNsports.com first reported the Twins’ denial.
Right now, there are no interviews scheduled for this weekend. They’ll have to be scheduled soon, because the Orioles would like to wrap up this process by next week. It’s possible they already have their man – which could be Duquette or their other remaining candidates, Philadelphia Phillies assistant GM Scott Proefrock or current Orioles player development director John Stockstill.
If I were a betting man -- and by now, this search would have cost me my house -- I'd say the Orioles make an offer to Duquette unless Oppenheimer blows them away in his interview.
At this point, the Orioles have not asked permission to talk to anyone else and have no plans to do so.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Dan shame on the whole oriole organization. The ultimate winner to be the GM of this organization is the guy that doesn't have the stones to turn the position down. The other gentlemen that already turn them down knew that all he was going to be was a gopher to do what buck and peter told him to do. This guy will have no authority what so ever and instead of this organization gaining respectability around the league there are sinking to depths only the orioles could achieve.Shame on the orioles and shame on anybody that continues to support them at all.
Posted by: blancione | November 5, 2011 5:13 AM
Here's as much as I know of the Orioles' GM search:
Dennis
Posted by: Dennis in WV | November 5, 2011 7:05 AM
WHY NOT NAME BUCK THE OFFICIAL GM & HIRE A FIELD MANAGER. BUCK WILL HAVE HIS WAY NO MATTER WHO IS HIRED WHY NOT JUST OFFICIALLY TAKE THE JOB & CONCENTRATE ON IT FULL TIME?
Posted by: Albany Bob | November 5, 2011 10:20 AM
Duquette is going to want to do the same thing lacava and dipoto knew they needed to do- fire, hire, and spend money in the scouting and player development departments. That's his background. So I don't know how he is all that different than those guys. Other than he has had real success doing it. The guy knew what he was doing in Montreal and Boston, he can make a trade, he knows what a ballplayer looks like and projects to be.
At this point, they could do worse. At the end of the day, you either trust a guy to do a job or you don't. And that goes both ways. But you have to wonder why nobody wants that job. Somebody is saying something that is not going over all that well.
Posted by: jim66 | November 5, 2011 10:21 AM
Get the hint yet, Angelos? No one wants to work for you!
We're getting ready to hire a gyy that has been out of baseball for 9 years. Just amazing.
Posted by: Andrew | November 5, 2011 11:32 AM
It is a shame that Andy Rooney recently died. He wouldn't take any whining from Angelos without commenting to the press.
I guess the best candidate will be a person with no stones.
Posted by: Lee | November 5, 2011 12:27 PM
Dan Duquette did a really good job with the Red Sox, drafted and developed most of their core players during his time and set the Red Sox up to win in 2004. If the Orioles hire him they are getting a guy who is going to try and win in 2012, very similar to when he took over in 1995 with Boston.
Posted by: Jon | November 5, 2011 12:52 PM
I love the way that Mike Radcliff of the Twins organization said "no" without actually saying "no" to Angelos. He got the team to say that they would not give the Os permission to speak to Radcliff. Very politically correct.
Red Sox exec. Allard Baird says that he has too much loyalty not only to his team but to a GM who just hired about a week ago. WOW!
Posted by: dspedden | November 5, 2011 5:18 PM
From what I read, Duquette lacked people skill with both the Expos and Red Sox. I hope he has matured and realized that opportunities such as this, even with the Orioles, do not come along often for an unemployed ex GM. He may be desperate and will abide with Angelos for a short period of time.
Posted by: Lee | November 6, 2011 5:02 PM
Check the Players from the 2004 World Champion Red Sox and how many were drafted, traded for or signed via free agency by Duquette---answer is most of them. Perhaps Theo gets credit for the 2007 Title but Duquette deserves credit for 2004. And the Henry/Luchino/Werner fakers never even gave Duquette a Ring...Oriloes fans are lucky. He will turn around your team and make them the winners your rich history expects !
Posted by: Matt | November 7, 2011 1:09 PM