Orioles rumors: Matt Wieters interested in long-term deal

The Baltimore Orioles locked up both their manager and GM long-term yesterday, announcing deals with Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette that will keep the pair in Baltimore through the 2018 season.

Another big part of the Orioles' organization, catcher Matt Wieters, made it known yesterday that he would like to be a part of the club long-term as well, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun:

"I've always been interested [in staying long-term in Baltimore]," Wieters said Tuesday.

"I'm a huge fan of Baltimore and what Buck and Dan have done. It's something to where it's a great baseball town, it's a fun place to play and it's a place where I enjoy playing."

Connolly adds that no formal discussions between the two sides have been had at this point, but that there is definitely a mutual interest in working something out.

Wieters, 26, has not quite been the second coming of Johnny Bench or Mike Piazza like many predicted as he mashed his way through the Orioles' farm system, but he has been a valuable addition behind the plate the last four years nonetheless.

The switch-hitting backstop batted .249/.329/.435 with a career-high 23 home runs -- while earning his second-consecutive Gold Glove -- this past season.