Duquette: Orioles Will "Absolutely" Be Buyers At Deadline

Baltimore Orioles GM Dan Duquette has stated his club will "absolutely" be buyers at the July 31 trade deadline, reports Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com:

Speaking before the game, along with manager Buck Showalter, to season ticket holders as part of the club’s annual "State of the Orioles" address, Duquette told the group assembled principal owner Peter Angelos "wants to win this year". He reiterated that sentiment in meeting with the media, saying that he "absolutely" had the support of the Orioles ownership to do whatever he feels is in the team’s best interest.

"We are in contention, so we are going to do whatever we can to make the playoffs," said Duquette, who inherited an organization with 14 consecutive losing seasons when taking the reins this winter.

Duquette told Ghiroli that he has the ownership’s full backing to add whatever pieces the team needs to stay in contention and will do whatever he can to help the team make the playoffs. Duquette said he would not hesitate to make a move that could better the current club, but also noted that he would stop short of trading away the team’s top prospects.

With Nolan Reimold out the remainder of the season, Nick Markakis still working his way back from injury and Endy Chavez struggling mightily with the bat (.162/.193/.210 in 32 games), the Orioles could certainly be on the market for outfield help.