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Baltimore Orioles: 5 Biggest Storylines of Offseason

By Joe Serpico

Mar 4, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Mark Trumbo (45) bats during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Mark Trumbo (45) bats during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 4, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) stands at home plate during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) stands at home plate during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Matt Wieters Accepts Qualifying Offer

Wieters shocked the baseball world when he became just the second player in MLB history to accept a qualifying offer from his team. Every other player had rejected their qualifying offer until this season in which three players said yes to the offer – Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus and Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson were the others.

The O’s will pay Wieters nearly $16 million this season, almost double his salary of last season ($8.3 million). It made sense for him because he was unlikely to see that figure in free agency this offseason, but gives him an opportunity to earn it with a solid 2016 season.

Many speculated that with Wieters accepting the offer, it put a damper on the chances of the Orioles bringing back O’Day and Davis. That has not been the case as Uncle Pete opened up the checkbook this offseason and kept everyone around.

It remains to be seen what happens after 2016 with Wieters, but his presence in the lineup is huge for the Orioles. There are not many catchers in baseball with the offensive prowess that he offers, and at least for one more season, the O’s will have one of the top players at the position.

Next: Doubling Down On 'The Deputy'

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