Orioles' owner on Duquette, Blue Jays rumors: 'Those reports are false'

Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos vehemently refuted earlier reports Wednesday that executive vice president and general manager Dan Duquette was close to joining the Toronto Blue Jays. 

The long-rumored reports indicated that Duquette would head to Toronto by way of trade to assume the club's CEO position, but Angelos firmly stated otherwise. 

"There are no negotiations," Angelos said, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN. "Those reports are false."

Angelos reiterated that stance to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. 

"There have not been any changes in the status of Dan Duquette," Angelos said. "He is our GM and he is going to remain our GM. ... (Duquette) is concentrating on his efforts to determine the composition of our team for 2015. That is the answer. Period."

Angelos admitted that the Blue Jays have inquired and expressed interest in Duquette, but said the Orioles aren't currently negotiating with their division rival in any way.

While a report from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports said the two sides have discussed a potential compensation package for Duquette, who is signed with the Orioles through 2018, Angelos said he didn't believe conversations between the two sides have reached that far and that no specific Toronto players had been discussed. 

"He works for the Orioles," Angelos said. "He's got a contract. He is very sophisticated. He understands ... that."

Angelos' denials came shortly after FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reported that the two sides were making progress on a deal. 

Morosi said there was growing optimism that Duquette was set to head north and join the Blue Jays as the team's CEO. He also reported that compensation discussions between the two sides were ongoing and that the Blue Jays have informed Major League Baseball that Duquette is their top choice to assume the CEO position that is currently being occupied by Paul Beeston. 

Initial reports of Duquette leaving the Orioles to join the Blue Jays first gained traction in December. 

Duquette - who became the Orioles' GM in November 2011 - helped guide Baltimore to the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, including 2014 when the the team won the American League East for the first time since 1997.