By Rich DubroffCSNbaltimore.com
The Orioles finally have their man. Its Dan Duquette, and, according to industry sources, hell be formally introduced Tuesday as the teams new top executive of baseball operations.
The search to replace Andy MacPhail took nearly a month, and Duquette met with team decision-makers for three days and finally with owner Peter Angelos on Sunday.
Orioles officials would not officially confirm the agreement on Sunday afternoon.
Duquettes deal is expected to be for three years.
Out of Major League Baseball for nearly a decade, Duquette, 53, has run two teams, the Montreal Expos from 1991 to 1993, and the Boston Red Sox from 1994 to 2002.
Hes won in two different situations. Hes got a proven track record, said Jim Duquette, his cousin and a former top Orioles executive.
Hes got a winning of percentage of .555. Thats the ultimate judge.
The Red Sox made the postseason three times in Dan Duquettes tenure.
Duquette was chosen in the Orioles second round of interviews. They interviewed four candidates in the first round: Jerry Dipoto, who was selected as the Angels new general manager; Tony LaCava, who turned down the Orioles deal; DeJon Watson, a Dodgers assistant general manager; and John Stockstill, the Orioles' minor-league director.
After LaCava rebuffed the Orioles last week, the team interviewed Philadelphia assistant general manager Scott Proefrock, who once worked with Jim Duquette in Baltimores front office, and on Friday they talked to Dan Duquette. Manager Buck Showalter apparently was heavily involved in the process.
Hell bring some fresh ideas, a high degree of intelligence, and he and Buck will work really well together, Jim Duquette said.
Ousted when John Henry bought the Red Sox in 2002, Dan Duquette received a reported 3 million severance and since has run a childrens sports camp and had brief stints running a college summer baseball league and a baseball league in Israel.
Duquette also appeared in a western Massachusetts community theater production of Damn Yankees, singing Youve Gotta Have Heart.
Showalter and Matt Klentak, the teams director of baseball operations, have been directing the front office since MacPhails departure.
Duquette will have much work to do. Free agency began on Thursday, and hell have to replace Joe Jordan, the teams former scouting director, who left for the Phillies last month. The future of Stockstill, whos held multiple positions in the teams front office, also has to be decided.
Showalter was also holding off on finalizing next years coaching staff until a top executive was hired. There are two openings, one to replace Willie Randolph at third base and another for bullpen coach. It is believed Showalter would like at least one of the hirings to come from within the organization.
