It’s that time of year where teams will begin to make decisions on tendering contracts to players eligible for arbitration.
Players become eligible for arbitration when they accumulate a certain number of years (usually three) of major league service time.
The Baltimore Orioles tendered 10 of its arbitration eligible players by Friday’s 5:00 p.m. EST deadline.
One of the biggest surprises was the Orioles tendering a contract to first baseman, Ryan Mountcastle. Coby Mayo is expected to receive plenty of playing time at first, and when Samuel Basallo isn’t catching or DH’ing, he is expected to play first base as well.
The log jam at first base, as well as the DH position with the addition of Taylor Ward and expected emergence of Dylan Beavers makes for an interesting situation and has to make many wonder what the plan will be.
Mountcaslte is the Orioles’ longest tendered player, entering his sixth season as a member of the Birds. Mounty is a career .263 hitter with a total of 98 home runs in 652 games.
As talented as the former first-round pick is, Mountcastle has struggled to stay healthy, making four stints to the IL the last three seasons and playing in 76% of the games since 2023.
In another surprise move, the Orioles opted not to tender a contract to right-hander Albert Suárez, who is recovering from a right forearm flexor strain that limited him to just five games last season.
Suárez went 2-0 in those five games (one start) last season, with a 2.31 ERA upon his return. The 36-year-old proved a valuable addition in 2024, as he set career-bests, appearing in 32 games (24 starts) and going 9-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 133.2 innings with 107 strikeouts and seven quality starts.
The Orioles also agreed to terms with former All-Star closer Félix Bautista on a one-year, $2.25 million contract to avoid arbitration. The 30-year-old righty will likely miss most of the 2026 season after having right shoulder surgery. There is an outside possibility he could return in late August or September.
Baltimore also traded catcher Alex Jackson to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league infielder Payton Eeles, leaving the 40-man roster at 39 players.
The players who were tendered contracts have until January 1, 2026, to avoid trading salary figures with the team and having a hearing scheduled.
The remaining players who were tendered contracts are as follows:
LHP Keegan Akin
RHP Kyle Bradish
RHP Yennier Cano
INF Gunnar Henderson
RHP Dean Kremer
LHP Trevor Rogers
C Adley Rutschman
OF Taylor Ward
RHP Tyler Wells
Be sure to check back for more updates as the offseason progresses to see if any players are moved or signed.
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