Baltimore Orioles could be interested in bringing back Matt Wieters

While it remains a long shot, there are reports that suggest the Baltimore Orioles may be interested in re-signing former Orioles catcher Matt Wieters to a one-year deal.

Matt Wieters has been a favorite among Baltimore Orioles fans since the team drafted him, and though he never quite lived up to the albeit lofty expectations that were placed upon him, he was remained a solid player for the team (not to mention a Gold Glove winner).

There were thoughts that the Baltimore Orioles might re-sign Wieters this offseason, but those thoughts were all but put to rest once the team signed Welington Castillo to a one-year deal.

Despite that, however, there are rumblings now that the Orioles may possibly be interested in bringing back Wieters on a one-year deal to split time catching with Castillo and spend some time DHing, per Jerry Crasnick.

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The chance at a Wieters/Orioles reunion is a long shot, as Crasnick later notes, being that the team’s on-field people like Wieters, but the analytics people don’t as much.

Roch Kubatko notes in a reply to Crasnick’s first tweet that the price would have to be just right for Wieters to return to Baltimore.

While a sort of platoon split at catcher between Castillo and Wieters would give the Orioles a lot of flexibility at the position, it’s likely not what either Castillo or Wieters want, especially Wieters considering he’d essentially be Castillo’s backup. Being a backup catcher isn’t exactly the best way to secure a multi-year deal like Wieters is likely trying to do.

The Orioles likely only need another catcher for a year or two more, as they’re patiently waiting for top prospect Chance Sisco to be ready for the major leagues. Castillo should serve as a more than capable placeholder for Sisco in the interim, though Wieters would certainly be a valuable asset as well (albeit likely not a cheap one).

Wieters never really lived up to the “Joe Mauer with power” comparison that came with him out of college, but he was certainly a very useful player for the Orioles during his time in Baltimore. He won two Gold Gloves, one in 2011 and another in 2012, and went to four All-Star Games with the team (including last season).

Last season Wieters batted .243/.302/.409 with 17 HRs, 48 R, and 66 RBI. It was a relatively down year for the 30-year-old catcher, but it was good enough to get him to the All-Star Game.

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If Wieters’ market doesn’t improve, it wouldn’t necessarily be surprising to see Dan Duquette pursue him, if the price is right. Scott Boras is a difficult agent, and there are still a handful of other teams interested in Wieters (including the Reds, Angels, and Rockies), so the likelihood that Wieters spends 2017 in Baltimore isn’t high, but it’s possible.