The Orioles have pulled their contract offer to free agent slugger Chris Davis, vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette confirmed to reporters at the team's FanFest event Saturday. The club is now "going down different tracks."
Earlier this week, CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman reported the Orioles offered Davis more than $150 million, though he noted there was still a gap in talks. Davis is said to be looking for a contract in line with the eight-year, $180 million deal the Yankees gave Mark Teixeira a few years ago.
Duquette said the team will now explore other options to boost their lineup. Heyman says they have their eye on the recently non-tendered Pedro Alvarez.
In addition to Alvarez, the Orioles could look at outfield bats like Alex Gordon, Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes. They made a big offer to Davis, so they have money to spend, obviously. A starter like Mike Leake or Scott Kazmir may be a target as well.
The O's have already re-signed Darren O'Day to a four-year contract, but they stand to lose Davis and Wei-Yin Chen to free agency. They still boast an impressive core led by Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Zach Britton.
Baltimore went 81-81 in 2015 and finished five games back of a wild-card spot. Even if they manage to re-sign Davis and Chen, it only gets them back to where they were in 2015. They're not upgrades.
Davis, 29, hit .262/.361/.562 (146 OPS+) with an MLB leading 47 home runs in 2015. His 126 homers from 2013-15 are the most in baseball, as are his 580 strikeouts.
The Mets need to think about getting Davis.
Earlier this week, CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman reported the Orioles offered Davis more than $150 million, though he noted there was still a gap in talks. Davis is said to be looking for a contract in line with the eight-year, $180 million deal the Yankees gave Mark Teixeira a few years ago.
Duquette said the team will now explore other options to boost their lineup. Heyman says they have their eye on the recently non-tendered Pedro Alvarez.
In addition to Alvarez, the Orioles could look at outfield bats like Alex Gordon, Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes. They made a big offer to Davis, so they have money to spend, obviously. A starter like Mike Leake or Scott Kazmir may be a target as well.
The O's have already re-signed Darren O'Day to a four-year contract, but they stand to lose Davis and Wei-Yin Chen to free agency. They still boast an impressive core led by Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Zach Britton.
Baltimore went 81-81 in 2015 and finished five games back of a wild-card spot. Even if they manage to re-sign Davis and Chen, it only gets them back to where they were in 2015. They're not upgrades.
Davis, 29, hit .262/.361/.562 (146 OPS+) with an MLB leading 47 home runs in 2015. His 126 homers from 2013-15 are the most in baseball, as are his 580 strikeouts.
The Mets need to think about getting Davis.
