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Trade for Kris Benson -- Twice -- at Your Own Risk

Johnny Dickshot Oct 05 2007 11:44 AM

]Duquette resigns from O's Unhappy with role, O's VP will pursue front office position elsewhere By Jeff Zrebiec Sun reporter 1:18 PM EDT, October 5, 2007 Unsatisfied with his role in the Orioles' front office, vice president Jim Duquette resigned today after two seasons with the club. Duquette had one year left on his contract, but he's decided to seek a front office opportunity elsewhere. Duquette, 41, was hired from the New York Mets after the 2005 season to work in tandem with executive vice president Mike Flanagan. However, the June hiring of president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and the possibility that MacPhail will bring in another executive to serve as his top aide would have left Duquette with significantly less responsibility and less of a voice in the club's decision-making process. "I appreciate the work that Jim has done here, and I also understand his decision to resign," MacPhail said. "Jim wants to continue his career with a different organization, which I understand. I wish him well." "I felt it was in the organization's best interest as well as my own to start fresh somewhere else," said Duquette. "I'm grateful for the opportunities the Orioles have provided." It's unclear at this point if Duquette was forced out or if he left on his own volition. It also isn't known what effect Duquette's resignation will have on the status of Flanagan, who also has ceded some responsibility. Upon his hiring, Duquette, a former general manager for the Mets, immediately become a vocal and visible presence in the Orioles' front office. Though Flanagan had the final say in the Orioles' front office, it was Duquette who took the lead in negotiating in both free agency and trade talks. Duquette was instrumental in the signing of free-agent catcher Ramon Hernandez and the acquisition of Corey Patterson in a trade for two minor leaguers. However, several of Flanagan and Duquette's moves did not pan out, including the signing of free-agent reliever Danys Baez, the contract extensions given to third baseman Melvin Mora and outfielder/designated hitter Jay Gibbons and the trade of reliever Jorge Julio and starter John Maine to the Mets for starter Kris Benson. It's been speculated in the media that MacPhail would overhaul the front office with Duquette being the first to go because he lacked the Orioles ties and did not have the same relationship that Flanagan had with team owner Peter Angelos. MacPhail said last week that it was much too premature to discuss the composition of the front office and no decisions were likely until after next week's organizational meetings in Florida. "I have not made any plans as of yet," MacPhail said last week when asked if he is plotting a front office shake-up. "I'm still in the position of collecting more information, which I'll continue to get at the meetings from our staff. In my own mind, I haven't addressed the front office yet." At the time, MacPhail said that Duquette was invited to the winter meetings, but Duquette will obviously no longer be in attendance.

Edgy DC Oct 05 2007 11:54 AM

Wow, another exectuative fails to navigate the Orioles mysterious and everchanging alphabet soup of a leadership structure. ]It's been speculated in the media that MacPhail would overhaul the front office with Duquette being the first to go because he lacked the Orioles ties and did not have the same relationship that Flanagan had with team owner Peter Angelos. Really, how expensive can it be to go over to the Oriole shop and buy a bunch of ties? Probably gets a sweet discount also.

metirish Oct 05 2007 11:55 AM

I always thought it was strange that he took that position with Baltimore, I could see why he wanted to leave the Mets just not why he would go work in tandem with another exec.