Despite playing in just 75 games, Wieters’ numbers were mostly in line with his career marks; in his seven seasons, all with Baltimore, the catcher has posted a career slash line of.258/.320/.423.
Advertisement
There were 20 qualifying offers made to free agents this year.
CBS Sports first reported that Wieters would accept the qualifying offer. Since then 34 qualifying offers have been extended with zero takers.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Wieters said Friday, “For a one-year deal, there’s no place more comfortable than playing baseball for the Orioles”. That could have been a turning point in the mindset of Wieters and Boras. Other teams also filled their catching needs rather quickly, so it appeared as though the market for Wieters was shrinking before he even had to decide on whether or not to accept the qualifying offer.
No matter the reason, Wieters has accepted the QO and will be in Baltimore for the 2016 season, and for now, it helps the O’s.
Houston Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus and Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters on Friday became the first two players to accept qualifying offers from their teams in the short history of the contracts, according to multiple reports. He missed the first two months of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2014.
Advertisement
While free agency for a 29-year-old catcher would normally be a good spot to be in, especially one with the hitting potential of Wieters, his value was at rock bottom and taking another year before entering the market again will allow him to re-establish his value and land a bigger deal in 2016-17. 267 with eight homers last season.
