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Matt Wieters accepted a one-year qualifying offer from the Orioles this past November, which places his quest for a long-term contract on hold until next offseason. While he certainly cashed in (to the tune of $15.8 million for 2016), Wieters has clearly placed the onus on his back to deliver a productive campaign and to show the market that his comeback from Tommy John surgery in 2014 is complete. The switch-hitting catcher has appeared in only 101 games over the past two seasons, but he has proven to be durable in years past by appearing in at least 130 games per season over a four-year stretch from 2010 to 2013. If Wieters can return to his pre-injury form of more than 20 HRs per campaign, he sets himself up to be the most attractive free agent catcher on the market next season. Wieters makes for an intriguing option in 2016 as he will likely slide into the five- or six-hole in what should be a productive Orioles lineup. Finishing the season as a top 10 overall catcher is not out of the question, and the extra motivation of a contract year could place his upside as high as top 5.
Will One-Year Gamble Pay Off For Matt Wieters And Orioles?
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