Despite the thought that the $3.5 million price tag on the 2021 option in shortstop José Iglesias' contract would possibly prompt the Orioles to decline it, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said Monday that it played little factor in the club’s eventual choice to exercise it.
“It was not a difficult decision,” Elias said. "José was tremendous for us in a very limited period of time, but he’s got a track record dating back beyond that. I think he’s a perfect fit for what we need right now. I think if he had not had the quad strain that he had, I think he would’ve been in the MVP conversation last year for the 60-game season had he played a lot of shortstop.