The Orioles could seemingly be interested in free agent slugger Prince Fielder. Fielder is “Angelos secret mandate”, according to Jon Heyman of SI. He notes that Buck Showalter has always liked Fielder, and that Dan Duquette is not afraid of signing big stars to big contracts.
While Duquette had initially given the feeling that the Orioles were not going to make any big splashes this year in free agency, that notion could be changing with Angelos wanting Fielder. It still remains to be seen whether the Orioles truly believe they can contend right now, and signing a player like Fielder would surely indicate that the front office feels that they are closer to contention than their 2011 record indicated.
However, this could simply be a ploy to drive the price on Fielder up. Toronto has been known to have interest in Fielder, as well as the Beltway rival Nationals. Both clubs interests would make it logical for the Orioles to show some form of interest to drive the price of Fielder up.
Regardless of the Orioles true meaning behind interest in Fielder, it surely makes the off-season a lot more exciting to follow.
