Orioles announce departures of Duquette, Showalter (updated)

The Orioles announced tonight that they won't retain executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter beyond contracts that run out at the end of the month. They also laid out the plan moving forward.

The club will hire an executive from outside of the organization to lead the baseball operations department, an important distinction following today's moves. The Orioles stated in a release that this individual will have the final determination on all baseball matters "that he or she believes will make the Orioles successful on the field, entertaining to fans and impactful in the community."

The new hire will obviously be involved in the hiring of a new manager. The Orioles won't go in reverse order.

Director of player development Brian Graham remains under contract and will handle the responsibilities attached to the baseball operations department in the interim period. He's been with the organization since 2007 after serving as Pirates interim general manager and also worked in a coaching capacity with the Orioles under former manager Mike Hargrove.

The release also stated that vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson and director of scouting Gary Rajsich remain under contract.

Showalter hasn't been available for comment, but agent Ray Schulte passed along a comment from him via Instagram:

"The organization, city and fans will always have a special place in my heart. Baltimore will always feel like home to Angela and myself. Thank you for the memories."

The following statement was issued on behalf of the club, the Angelos family and partners via spokesman Greg Bader:

"With the conclusion of the 2018 season, the club has decided to reorganize its Baseball Operations department under new executive management. We thank Dan and Buck for their many contributions over the past several years. Under their leadership, prior to the 2018 season and for six consecutive years, the club delivered competitive teams playing meaningful baseball into September, achieved three postseason appearances and came within four games of a World Series appearance, and won more games than any other American League club during a period spanning five of those six enjoyable seasons.

"Everyone in Birdland and across our organization will cherish these memories, and we all join in thanking Dan and Buck for their contributions.

"As we look forward to the next chapter of Orioles Baseball, we are grateful for the ongoing support of our fans. While this year has been a challenge, the organization is determined to grow and change in ways that will ultimately lead us back to the postseason."

Update: Duquette sent a tweet that read: "Amy and I and the entire Duquette family will fondly remember our seven seasons in Baltimore and are grateful for the opportunity afforded me by Peter Angelos to lead the beloved Orioles back in the rugged AL East. We are pround of three playoff appearances in the first five years, fielding a club that compiled the best record in the American League for almost six years and consistently having talented and entertaining clubs that won more than the preseason projections with excellent bullpens, good defense and a ton of home runs.

"I hope O's fans remember the 2014 AL East championship team and the sound and fury in Camden Yards when Delmon Young cleared the bases and J.J. Hardy slid home with the game-winning run vs. Detroit! The Birds were back and so were O's fans after more than 15 years.

"Our family will treasure the friends we made with a special group of players and front office families during our stay and we expect sons Colt, born in Annapolis in 2014, and Brodie, who went to the playoffs in Detroit, will always back the Birds!

"Thank you Buck, thank you O's fans, thank you Baltimore."