Duquette stays mum on possible reunion with Reynolds

SAN FRANCISCO -- Do the Orioles have interest in bringing back Mark Reynolds?

Perhaps. But executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette reminded reporters on Friday that the former Oriole -- who was designated for assignment Thursday -- is still under Cleveland's control and remained mum on a possible reunion.

"Given the circumstances, it's not appropriate for me to discuss a player under contract with another ballclub," Duquette said. "We do have a credible right-handed hitter in [Triple-A Norfolk's] Danny Valencia."

As part of being designated for assignment, Cleveland owns his contract and -- while it's unlikely they find a trade partner given his salary and recent performance -- it's out of the O's hands right now. It's a much more likely scenario that Baltimore would take a flier on Reynolds as a low-risk signing if he gets released, meaning they are off the hook for his salary.

"Yeah, well, let's see how it plays out," Duquette said of that scenario. "Let's see how it plays out."

Reynolds hit .215/.307/.373 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs in 99 games for the Indians, striking out 123 times in 384 plate appearances. Always streaky, Reynolds followed a red-hot April by hitting .218 in May, .187 in June, and .098 in July. His playing time had diminished considerably and he's 3-for-9 in August.

Reynolds hit .221/.328/.458 in two seasons with the O's and, while his bat is capable of carrying a team offensively, he's also strikeout-prone and had a prolonged slump in the first half of last season.

The Orioles declined Reynolds' $11 million option this winter and later non-tendered him, making him a free agent. Cleveland offered him a one-year, $6-million deal with incentives in December. The Orioles DH spot is hitting .210/.269/.389 with 16 homers and 46 RBIs and the club has employed a rotating cast without a true DH.