Dan Duquette says Nationals haven't contacted him

By Roch Kubatko

Nationals Orioles

April 12, 2016, 9:00am

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BOSTON - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette denied a report this morning that the crosstown-rival Nationals are pursuing him for the job of team president.

"I don't know anything about this," he wrote in a text message, "nor has anyone contacted me."

The St. Paul Pioneer Press, citing a source, reported the Nationals' interest in Duquette, who's in Boston for the Orioles' three-game series against the Red Sox.

An industry source told me earlier today that the Nationals hadn't contacted the Orioles seeking permission to speak with Duquette about the job.

A Nationals spokesperson issued a statement this morning that read: "We are not in discussions with Dan Duquette, nor are we in the market for a team president."

The Blue Jays pursued Duquette the 2014-2015 offseason for the position of team president, a story that broke in December during the flight to San Diego for the Winter Meetings and created some bitter feelings within the organization. The Orioles eventually began to negotiate possible compensation packages involving top Blue Jays prospects, according to multiple sources, before Toronto backed off and hired Mark Shapiro.

Managing partner Peter Angelos was adamant initially about not allowing Duquette out of a contract that runs through 2018.

The Orioles don't need any distractions now as they pursue their seventh consecutive win tonight, which would represent their longest streak since 2005.