I am comfortable doing this as much as anyone wants. We can go back nad look at the threads at the time.
Orioles made the playoffs in 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Use whatever label you want, but DD certainly had been contacted about interest before we publicly knew.
1) everyone at the time noted the oddity of extending Hardy before the ALCS.. That's dramatically out of line with the things MLB typically expects. There was no rush....but if DD knows MM wants to play SS and he's leaving after the Orioles lose (whenever that is), he wants to make sure that Hardy is extended so he doesn't have to risk MM getting comfortable n Baltimore at SS and then dealing with MM in BAL for the next 10+ years.
2) The Orioles had more connection to Vlad Jr (Fred F, Vlad Sr a year in BAL, etc) and if BAL was going to make one IFA play, that would have been the easiest one. That happened J2in 2014 (go back and look, I talked about it here) and Vlad was the #1 IFA cat and signed for a fairly modest (I think 3.1M?...I'd have to go back and check) amount. If the Orioles don't get him, that's fine, there's a bunch of active IFA teams that have relationships, etc. Blue Jays were not big FA players back then. When the Blue Jays get Vlad Jr. and in July and DD looks like he's going to Toronto 3 months later.....something is up there.
The problem with some of this. DD wanted Manny here. Ownership didnt.
Here is a BR that pretty much provides their opinion on resigning Hardy was the right move.
https://bleacherrepo...eat-move-for-os
I respect your right to your opinion, and so far, I havent read anything conclusive to change my own opinion.
The other thing here, not sure, how far along the DD trade with Toronto got until Peter nixed it.
Sure Toronto kicked the tires and through an offer out there. I dont believe the Orioles tried to counter.