A Summary

[UpstateNYfan]

Yeah Dan's a bum for wanting a job that pays more and gives him more authority. How dare he. And he's an even bigger bum for not lying to the press immediately and saying he wasn't interested when he was. :rolleyestf:

You certainly can't complain about a guy wanting to move up to a better job, but the guy also signed a long term contract for security also. There are people of honor that fulfill their contracts despite being offered a more lucrative salary (DD is not exactly making peanuts). In the business world when there is a breach of contract there is frequently compensation of some form.

The problem of course is timing. The Jays should have known by late in the season (no later than Oct 1) that they wanted a new whatever. There should be a window, maybe ending at the GM's meeting where they can fill higher end positions. If you can't do it then, hire an interim from within. I would bet DD knows the job's salary, title and responsibilities despite not yet being "interviewed". It is being poorly handled. The NFL certainly is busy right after the end of the season and gets it done in a better time frame. MLB should set some parameters to insure this doesn't happen again.

[El Gordo]

Yeah Dan's a bum for wanting a job that pays more and gives him more authority. How dare he. And he's an even bigger bum for not lying to the press immediately and saying he wasn't interested when he was. :rolleyestf:[/quote

I've been one of Duquette's staunchest supporters throughout his tenure here, but yeah, I think he's a bit of a bum in this matter sure. Ten years out of the game. He gets a shot from the O's. Signs a contract extension, for the security no doubt. Achieves succes. Then trys to back out of his commitment at the first opportunity. More money, more power, justifys his actions in your mind not in mine. He didn't have to lie. He could have simply told the truth. "I'm under contract with the Orioles."

BTW he has said that. I'm currently on tour with Sister Act the Musical. I having a great time, love every one in the cast, but if I got an offer to go to Broadway I'd be gone in a shot. That's the nature of my business. I expect there's little difference in baseball. .

[Chavez Ravine]

Kenny was silent until after he and Reinsdorf had their row, and Kenny threatened to quit and Jerry said fine, that he spoke openly about this. Dan has yet to speak. When it is over here like it is there, I am sure we will hear the equivalent. No matter who Dan works for.

While Dan probably wants the job more than Ken Williams did, I think the difference in the two situations is more that Angelos, despite his public statements, hasn't categorically said no in private. Who knows whether this is because he is a great guy and want's to give Dan an opportunity to pursue his dream job, whether he smells blood in the water and some leverage against MLB, or a combination of both?

The quotes from Ken at the Winter meetings don?t exactly sound like a guy that is happy that his boss told Toronto to buzz off.

Williams said by email Sunday morning that he was not granted permission for an interview and that the issue was ?not new,? suggesting reports of the interest were belated.

?That ship has sailed,? he said.

Addressing possible resignation, Williams did say he weighed his options at the time, though considerations of contractual violations likely would have played a factor.

?Given the set of circumstances, I considered all my options,? Williams said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-white-sox-williams-blue-jays-20141207-story.html

[weams]

He could have simply told the truth. "I'm under contract with the Orioles."

I've heard him say that three times.

[Flacco Machado]

BTW, Roch's blog this morning made it seem like Duquette was gone and he was trying to keep the fans' spirit up.

Yes it did. And more high praise for Brian Graham. Who I still say will get the interim job when DD leaves. Again, I almost guarantee it.

[weams]

BTW, Roch's blog this morning made it seem like Duquette was gone and he was trying to keep the fans' spirit up.

Yes it did. And more high praise for Brian Graham. Who I still say will get the interim job when DD leaves. Again, I almost guarantee it.

I agree. Sounded like it.

[TonySoprano]

Reinsdorf won't do anything while Beeston is still there.

As I said before, the Orioles must also be able to prove tampering or the threat wouldn't be effective.

"They clearly tampered with Kenny, who is like a son to me," Reinsdorf said. "But I would never file tampering charges against the Blue Jays " Paul Beeston is my best friend in the game."

[weams]

As I said before, the Orioles must also be able to prove tampering or the threat wouldn't be effective.

I suspect Dan told Peter everything. Everything.

[33rdst]

He could have handled it better, but this guy Rogers, what he is offering, and how he is doing it is unprecedented. For all we know Peter and Dan would have handled it quietly if not for the media circus out of Chicago and Toronto.

No doubt Rodgers has acted like complete buffoon. And I agree with you, had this not become a public circus, maybe PA and DD would have worked it out privately.

[Larry18]

"Hello Mr. Angelos? This is Ed Rodgers and as you know Paul Beeston will be stepping down at the end of this season and we'd like to interview Dan Duquette for the position"

[TonySoprano]

Elliott had previously reported the Chicago angle 10 days ago

Edward Rogers and his good friend Roger Rai, a “sports consultant” to the Rogers empire, met with New York Yankees president Randy Levine in New York looking for suggestions as to who to hire as the next president.

Levine gave the two friends from their University of Western Ontario days, a pair of names: Kenny Williams of the Chicago White Sox and Duquette.

Now, if you ran a team looking for help hiring a manager, a general manager, a president, or whatever ... would you ask a division rival for help?

Rogers called White Sox executive vice-president Williams — without permission — and then called White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who is Beeston’s best friend.

And Rogers also called Orioles owner Peter Angelos about Duquette.

source - Toronto Sun

[hoosiers]

I don't fault DD for his handling of the situation. This appears to be DD's dream job with more power, security and $ for a team with more financial resources than the Os. DD clearly wants this job. The problem is on the Toronto end for not resolving this quicker. Toronto should have been better prepared to hand over major prospects and, if they weren't should have realized the prospect cost quicker and concluded this.

Regarding PA, he has had to come to a quick realization that DD wanted the Toronto job and has had to move quickly to get appropriate compensation and make sure his FO situation is resolved quickly. Everyone has been appropriately professional except for Toronto.

[weams]

I don't fault DD for his handling of the situation. This appears to be DD's dream job with more power, security and $ for a team with more financial resources than the Os. DD clearly wants this job. The problem is on the Toronto end for not resolving this quicker. Toronto should have been better prepared to hand over major prospects and, if they weren't should have realized the prospect cost quicker and concluded this.

Regarding PA, he has had to come to a quick realization that DD wanted the Toronto job and has had to move quickly to get appropriate compensation and make sure his FO situation is resolved quickly. Everyone has been appropriately professional except for Toronto.

I'd have to agree with just about every word of this.

[Larry18]

The only role MLB should have is to discipline Toronto for tampering. I really don't understand their role in this mess.

[33rdst]

A

I am wondering is Peter Angelos winning the battle decisively but losing the war.

Peter appears to have Ed Rogers right where he wants him. Somewhere between getting a significant return for Dan (two significant players) and Rogers losing his job because of tampering. Both Ed Rogers and we should know that the Peter will file tampering charges against Rogers if this transaction does not happen. And Peter will make it as messy as he can for Ed Rogers (with the backing Reinsdorf) which will probably cost him his job.

So the transaction has to go through from Ed Roger's stand point. At whatever cost. And Peter wins. Or does he?

What is lost in the hand to hand combat of the battle is that the O's lose Dan Duquette. Many will say that a couple of very good prospects is much greater compensation than Dan's value. Dan can be replaced they will contend. The flaw in that is there are few if any GM candidates out there that have Dan's GM experience combined with the ability to successfully work with Peter Angelos. That second part is the hardest part of all. It was nearly impossible for almost 20 years prior to Dan.

Here is a list of the players Dan has on the 40 man roster Plus:

Dan Duquette guys

Pitchers

Kevin Gausman

Wei-Yin Chen

Miguel Gonzalez

Bud Norris

Ubaldo Jimenez

Brady Brach

TJ McFarland

Ryan Webb

Wesley Wright

Jason Garcia

Logan Verrett

Catcher

JP Arencibia

Steve Clevenger

Ryan Lavarnway

Infielders

Ryan Flaherty

Christian Walker

Rey Navarro

Jimmy Paredes

Outfielders

Steve Pearce

Alejandro De Aza

David Lough

Alex Hassan

Henry Urrutia

Dariel Alvarez

DH

Delmon Young

Add to that Nelson Cruz and Andrew Miller who played big roles in making the O's Division Champs.

The list shows that Dan built the starting pitching staff that was the difference maker between the O's being a sub .500 team and a playoff winner. The position players outside of Cruz and maybe a surprising Steve Pearce are mostly depth players. Now add to it that Dan knew and probably identified Dave Wallace. Dan has improved the scouting staff especially internationally and the player development staff. Its unclear how many of them leave if their sponsor leaves.

So Peter looks positioned to win the battle. Will he lose the war?

You make a good argument for Duquett's value to the team and the significance of his loss. The possibility exists that, as you point out, that PA could win the battle in extracting top prospects from the Jays but lose the war when Duquette leaves. The problem in all this is that there really isn't anything else for PA to do. Duquette wants to leave. Sure Angelos could drop the matter and just hold DD to his contract. But can he really? What message does Peter send to people throughout the organization that genuinely want to be here if he "forces" DD to stay against his will. Worse yet, if he forces him to stay and gives him more money and power. No DD cut his ties with the O's when he told PA and others in the organization tha he wants the job in Toronto. The best Peter can do is get the most he can from Toronto and hire the best replacement possible for Duquette. Duquette didn't do all of this alone. Buck et al will continue to do a great job. We have to trust them.