Baltimore Orioles owner backs Showalter and Duquette

Peter Angelos, typically one of the more tempestuous owners in baseball, has delivered an unequivocal vote of confidence in Baltimore Orioles general manager Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter.

Angelos told MASNsports.com that both Showalter and Duquette would “absolutely” return in 2016.

The owner added: “There’s no reason for any change. We’re pleased with their performances from the beginning to the present and they will continue until their contracts expire. And once those deals expire, we’ll probably urge them to sign for additional years.”

That’s quite a strong statement of support for the franchise’s on-field and front office leaders. The O’s are coming off a largely disappointing campaign in which they finished third in the AL East with an 81-81 record.

Any hopes Baltimore had for the postseason fizzled during August when the team went 11-18, falling further behind the Yankees and surging Blue Jays. To their credit, the Orioles crossed the finish line in a decidedly more positive fashion, going 18-13 through September/October.

Buck Showalter has long been one of the most respected skippers in the game, and the O’s evidently feel they would rather have him at the helm than anyone else. Showalter has won the AL Manager of the Year Award three times, most recently with Baltimore last season after steering the club to its first division title in 17 years.

The Orioles are on the verge of a likely tumultuous offseason. Several of their most prominent players will become free agents, including Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Gerardo Parra and Wei-Yin Chen. Duquette, who has served as Baltimore’s GM since 2011, will have his hands full over the next several months. He recently said that re-signing first baseman Chris Davis, fresh off a 47-homer campaign, is his top priority.

Next: Orioles set up for failed offseason

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