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Baltimore Orioles: Ten Most Haunting Contracts In Franchise History

ByNick Stevens|
6 Apr 2002: Scott Erickson #19 starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles was the loosing pitcher as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. <>
6 Apr 2002: Scott Erickson #19 starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles was the loosing pitcher as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. <>
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Baltimore Orioles
BALTIMORE, MD – MAY 23: Mark Trumbo #45 of the Baltimore Orioles watches the game during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Mark Trumbo- 3 year/$37.5 million

At the time of the signing, you could make a case for giving Mark Trumbo a three-year/$37.5 million extension, unfortunately, a devasting and possibly career-ending knee injury limited Trumbo to just 248 games over the life of the contract.

Trumbo originally came to Baltimore in a 2015 trade with Seattle for the low price of Steve Clevenger. That next season, the 30-year-old slugger led the majors with 47 home runs, earned a trip to his second All-Star game, and won a Silver Slugger award. He may have been on the wrong side of 30, but the Orioles were expecting to tweak the roster and get back to the playoffs in 2017, with Trumbo serving as a powerful cog in the middle of the lineup.

After signing his new deal, Trumbo slashed .234/.289/.397 with 23 home runs and 65 RBI in his first full season before appearing in just 90 games in 2018 due to his knee injury.

After repeated comeback attempts and rehab stints in the minor leagues, Trumbo played 12 games in 2019, going 5-29 in what could be his final action as a major league hitter. He’s the lone Orioles free agent in 2019. We’ll see if there’s an American League team willing to take a chance on him or if he decides to hang up the cleats.

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