Major League Baseball

MacPhail still weighing options

Published Sep. 30, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

Ken Rosenthal

The expected resignation of Andy MacPhail as Orioles president of baseball operations did not occur on Thursday for a simple reason.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos is trying to convince MacPhail to remain with the team in either a decision-making capacity or advisory role, according to major-league sources.

A decision could come at any time, and there is pressure for the Orioles to move quickly; baseball frowns upon teams making major announcements during the postseason, and the playoffs begin Friday night.

Angelos, however, has a history of acting deliberately, and is taking one last shot at convincing MacPhail to change his mind, according to sources.

But MacPhail is still expected to resign, sources say, clearing the way for manager Buck Showalter to assume greater authority within the organization.

The continued presence of MacPhail likely would complicate Showalter’s plans for the Orioles going forward.

Showalter has not yet decided whether he wants to remain manager or become GM; Angelos, sources say, has given him the choice of either role.

Even if Showalter stays as manager, his power is expected to grow considerably - and he likely would want to replace some of MacPhail’s department heads, sources say.

The Orioles, in Showalter’s first full season as manager, finished last in the AL East for the fourth straight year and recorded their 14th straight losing season.