For now, the assumption is that catcher Matt Wieters has played his last game for the Orioles. Everything is subject to change - things can change with one phone call - but that appears to be the case.
The club's first-round selection (taken No. 5 overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia Tech, Wieters has played 882 games in an Orioles uniform. In 124 games last year, Wieters hit .243/.302/.409 with 17 doubles, a triple, 17 homers, 66 RBIs and an OPS of .711.
Among catchers who played in at least half of the games this season in the American League, Wieters ranked fourth in caught-stealing percentage:
48.1 - Salvador Perez, Royals
45.0 - James McCann, Tigers
37.5 - Carlos Perez, Angels
34.8 - Matt Wieters, Orioles
At one time, Wieters and agent Scott Boras were said to be seeking a free agent deal similar to those of two other catchers that have played in the AL East. The Yankees signed Brian McCann to a five-year deal worth $85 million after the 2013 season. The Blue Jays signed Russell Martin to a five-year deal worth $82 million after 2014. McCann was traded to Houston on Nov. 17.
Now it doesn't seem like Wieters has a chance to get anything even close to that. In fact, there has been very little speculated about his market or possible eventual destination. MLBTradeRumors.com rated him the No. 16 free agent this winter and projected Wieters to get a three-year deal worth $39 million.
Wieters was extended a one-year qualifying offer by the Orioles last year, accepted it and played for $15.8 million in 2016. This time he was not extended a qualifying offer of $17.2 million. If he signs elsewhere, the Orioles will not get a draft pick.
As the 2016 calender year draws to a close, Wieters' future is uncertain - both in terms of where that will be and also in terms of the dollars he can expect to get in a new deal.
Xu likely to play in the WBC: In July 2015, the Orioles signed Gui Yuan Xu, a 20-year-old left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder who is trying to become the first player from mainland China to make it to the major leagues. He is the first player signed from one of Major League Baseball's three youth developmental centers in China.
Xu is likely to play for China in the World Baseball Classic in March. He is on a preliminary roster for China right now, with the final rosters to be set on Feb. 6.
In his first professional season in 2016, he played for the Orioles' rookie-level Gulf Coast League team in Florida. In 33 games, he hit .247/.271/.284 with 11 runs, three doubles and nine RBIs. He got off to a fast start with 12 hits in his first 24 at-bats.