Baltimore Orioles: Is a Wieters / Orioles reunion out of the question?

Despite the  Baltimore Orioles signing Welington Castillo to be their every day catcher, a reunion with Matt Wieters isn’t entirely out of the question.

Once the Baltimore Orioles signed Welington Castillo to a one-year deal, it seemed as if the O’s were closing the door on a potential Matt Wieters reunion.

Well, that might not entirely be the case.

The Orioles currently have Castillo and Corban Joseph for catching depth, but Joseph has three minor-league options remaining in his contract. If the Orioles decided to send Joseph to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the season, it would open the door for a Wieters reunion, although Wieters would be splitting time behind the plate with Castillo.

Here’s what someone close to the Orioles told John Perrotto of Fan Rag Sports:

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"“It’s a longshot, but it’s not totally off the table,” the Orioles person said. “It’s something that would have to make sense for us from a financial standpoint.”"

This offseason has not been kind to Wieters. He was expected to be one of the top catching options on the free agent market. However, he’s still on the market with less than two weeks to go until Spring Training.

Unless Wieters’s agent Scott Boras waves a magic wand and finds Wieters a new home, it seems entirely possible he’ll still be on the market when pitchers and catchers report.

It also doesn’t seem likely Wieters will get the hefty payday he was hoping for. Just a year ago, he accepted a $15.8 Million qualifying offer with the Orioles instead of testing the free agent market. After the 2016 season ended, the Orioles opted not to offer Wieters a qualifying offer, thus making him a free agent.

Wieters spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles, making his Major League debut during the 2009 season, two years after he was selected in the amature draft. However, Wieters hasn’t been the same since tearing a ligament in his elbow in 2014.

Next: Orioles have to fill leadoff spot for 2017 season

Wieters hit .243/.302/.409 with 17 home runs in 2016.