Baltimore Orioles: Arbitration Day Signings (Updated)

As news of Baltimore Orioles arbitration deadline happenings is released, we will update this page with the latest around Birdland.

If you have been active on social media today, then you know exactly what day it is on the baseball calendar. With the deadline to sign arbitration-eligible players to new contracts for the 2020 season or exchange figures ahead of an arbitration hearing in February set for today, teams across the league are busy in trying to get deals done with more than 150 arbitration-eligible players, including three from the Baltimore Orioles.

As news of signings, possible extensions, or any moves are made throughout the day, we will update this post to reflect the latest happenings around Birdland on this busy day.

As we discussed this morning, the Orioles started with seven arbitration-eligible players, but have widdled that number down to just three. Jonathan Villar ($10.4 million*) and Dylan Bundy ($5.7 million*) were traded earlier this season, taking the Orioles off the hook for their 2020 salary increases.

Richard Bleier ($1.1 million*) reached an agreement with the Orioles a few weeks ago on a one-year/$915,000 deal to avoid arbitration. Fellow bullpen arm Miguel Castro ($1.2 million*) also reached an agreement ahead of Friday, signing a one-year deal worth $1.1 million on Thursday afternoon.

That leaves just Hanser Alberto ($1.9 million*), Mychal Givens ($3.2 million*) and Trey Mancini ($5.7 million*) as the three players left without new deals in place for 2020.

(* indicate MLBTradeRumors projected 2020 salary numbers).

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has reported that Givens and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.225 million, pretty much exactly what MLBTradeRumors projected. Despite issues with walks and home runs in 2019, Givens set a career-high strikeout rate last season and now finds himself as the most likely trade piece for the Orioles this offseason.

As of 12:30 pm EST, Alberto and Mancini remained unsigned. If no deals are reached, both players will be scheduled for arbitration hearings sometime in February.

*Update (1:15 pm EST)- Per MLB.com’s Joe Trezza, Hanser Alberto and the Orioles have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.65 million

*Update (2:30 pm EST)- Per Roch Kubatko, the Orioles and Mancini have agreed to terms, meaning all arbitration-eligible players have new deals in place for 2020. Mancini will make $4.75 million next season, well below what he was projected to make. However, there will be no hearings come February.

Also, MASN’s Roch Kubatko is reportedly hearing that the Orioles could be close in signing a veteran free agent catcher. Caleb Joseph, perhaps? There has been a recent run on free agent catchers, so we assumed this move would be happening in the next few days.