Heyman On Orioles, Cubs, Astros

The Orioles may have trouble attracting GM candidates with stature, assuming president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail leaves after the season, Jon Heyman writes at SI.com. Owner Peter Angelos is involved in all the big decisions the Orioles make, sometimes making the calls himself. Angelos loves manager Buck Showalter and there’s some buzz that Angelos could make his manager the GM as well, as unlikely as that seems. Here’s the latest from Heyman:

• Showalter was Angelos’ choice last year, though MacPhail appeared to be leaning toward current Mariners manager Eric Wedge.
• Cal Ripken Jr. doesn’t appear to have interest in becoming a general manager and people close to the longtime Orioles shortstop say they can’t see him working under Angelos as a GM.
• It’s hard to imagine Rangers executive John Hart agreeing to work under Angelos, unless he gets real autonomy.
• Angelos wouldn’t like the idea of hiring a Yankee to turn his franchise around and it appears unlikely that Brian Cashman would leave New York for Baltimore.
• Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine, who grew up rooting for the Orioles, figures to be a candidate for the job.
• Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has started calling around “in earnest” about possible GMs.
• If the Astros move to the American League, MLB will add an extra Wild Card team next year.
• Mets executives see Justin Turner as a utility player.