Orioles wisely retain trio of veterans with 2025 contract options

On Monday afternoon, the Orioles made final decisions on the four remaining players from 2024 with contract options for next year. They'd already declined the $16.5 million option on Eloy Jimenez on Sunday, but the trio of Seranthony Dominguez, Cionel Perez, and Ryan O'Hearn will all remain in Baltimore for the time being. Interestingly, lefty Danny Coulombe was let go, as the O's declined his option.

Dominguez was arguably the most interesting choice of the group. With closer Felix Bautista due back prior to Opening Day 2025, the back of the O's bullpen seemed set. Bautista will resume his role as closer, and Yennier Cano will likely work in high-leverage spots, at least to start.

Coulombe was expected to be part of the late-inning mix as well, but in his absence Dominguez will likely retain the high-leverage role he obtained in 2024. Dominguez functioned as the Orioles' closer after Craig Kimbrel's departure and while there were concerns about Dominguez's performance from the start, he was mostly fine in the second half.

Orioles retain three important parts of 2024 squad via contract options

For now, Dominguez and Cano will likely work in the 7th and 8th innings and the O's will have a rotating cast of guys around them. Part of that mix will again be lefty Cionel Perez, who struggled to a 4.53 ERA in 2024, albeit with a more attractive 3.30 FIP. Perez is due just $1.2 million, so while he's not a world beater back there he is at least cheap. With any luck, he'll be able to get back to the level of performance we saw in 2022.

In addition to Dominguez and Perez, 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn will return for his third year in an Orioles uniform. The 31 year old lefty has put up consecutive solid seasons with Baltimore after struggling to get his career off the ground in Kansas City. Over the past two years, O'Hearn has hit .275/.329/.450 with 29 homers, good plate discipline, and passable outfield defense.

O'Hearn will make just $3.5 million in 2025, so it seemed like a no-brainer for the Orioles' brass to retain him for another year. Ideally, O'Hearn will continue to work in a strong-side platoon role that he's best suited for. He was very good against righties in 2024 and there's no reason to think he'll start to slow down.

With the O's contract options now settled, Mike Elias and the front office can go about solving a number of other roster holes. They'll have to start with the voids created by Anthony Santander and Corbin Burnes. As of Monday evening, all teams are free to start negotiating with the entire list of free agents.