The Orioles will not increase season-ticket prices "for the second straight season" for those who buy either full- or partial-season plans, according to Jon Meoli of the BALTIMORE SUN. There also will be "new benefits" for fans who renew their tickets, including the "return of early access to Camden Yards for season-plan members." The Orioles also will "continue popular aspects of the memberships, including ticket exchanges, postseason and Opening Day ticket availability, and free FanFest access." The last price increase came before the '16 season, when the club went on a "free-agent splurge" to re-sign 1B Chris Davis and P Darren O'Day (BALTIMORE SUN, 1/10). In Baltimore, Ryan Sharrow wrote other new benefits available to season-ticket plan holders include "pregame on-field access opportunities, preferred pregame seating at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant and access to the roof deck pregame lounge." A handwritten note from Orioles manager Buck Showalter was "included [in] the renewal notice" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/9).
AT A CROSSROADS: In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck writes it seems "pretty clear that ownership isn't going to pop for any of the top-priced free-agent pitchers who could really help bridge the club's glaring rotation gap." That decision could lead to the '18 season being the "bitter end of the largely successful" pairing of Showalter and Orioles Exec VP/Baseball Operations Dan Duquette "instead of a new beginning." Duquette shopping 3B Manny Machado at the Winter Meetings should tell fans that the organization has "already decided that it is not willing to compete in a free-agent market that might award its most prized player" more than $300M next winter. What this really comes down to is whether the team has any "coherent plan for the next several seasons, since it appears that Duquette -- in his last guaranteed year as executive vice president -- is simply rounding up the usual suspects" and heading into '18 with the "same approach he has employed throughout his Orioles tenure" (BALTIMORE SUN, 1/10).
