The offseason for the 101-win American League East Champions has been a quiet one. In November, the Baltimore Orioles signed a single free agent, lefty Jakob Hernandez, to a minor league contract, but the O’s lost five to free agency. However, Manager of the Year Brandon Hyde has little to worry about on that front. The O’s boast the number one farm system in the league.
Right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson is the loss that has the most potential to hurt the Orioles the most. Gibson signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals for $12 million with an additional club option for 2025 at another $12 million. This contract comes with the opportunity for Gibson to earn performance bonuses and guarantees him a $1 million bonus if traded.
Coming out of the bullpen is righty Jack Flaherty, who has since signed with the Detroit Tigers, and righty Shintaro Fujinami, who remains unsigned as of this article. Flaherty and the Tigers agreed to a one-year $14 million contract just before Christmas. Both the infield and outfield took a hit in the losses of center-fielder Aaron Hicks and second-baseman Adam Frazier, both of whom remain unsigned.
December was a little more productive, seeing the addition of six minor league contracts, one free agent, and one trade. The minor league teams will be further bolstered by the additions of outfielder Jordan Sanchez, right-handed pitchers Santhony Vizcaino and Wandisson Charles, along with lefty Andy Fabian, and catchers Michael Perez and David Banuelos. The Orioles signed right-handed pitcher Craig Kimbrel, formerly of the Philadelphia Phillies, to a one-year $13 million contract with the possibility of a club option in 2025. Kimbrel will be vital to the club in 2024 since closer Felix Bautista will likely remain unavailable throughout the season due to Tommy John surgery in late 2023. The lone trade of the season was a righty for righty trade with the Kansas City Royals. The Royals traded right-handed pitcher Jonathan Heasley to the O’s for right-handed pitcher Cesar Espinal.
Thus far in January, the Orioles have signed two free agents to minor league contracts, but the month is still young. However, the main event of January is the arbitration deadline. The O’s have seventeen arbitration-eligible players. Many of the key players in the team reeling in the 101 wins in the 2023 season are arbitration-eligible, including outfielders Anthony Santander, Cedric Mullins, and Austin Hays.
As of the publishing of this article, the Orioles have come to an agreement with twelve of the seventeen players. Jorge Mateo ($2.7M), Keegan Akin ($825,000), Sam Hilliard ($800,000), Ryan McKenna ($800,000), Cole Irvin ($2M), John Means ($3.325M), Ryan Mountcastle ($4.137M), Cedric Mullins ($6.325M), Anthony Santander ($11.7M), Dillon Tate ($1.5M), Ramon Urias ($2.1M), and Tyler Wells ($1.9625M) will be returning to the team in 2024. Five players, Danny Coulombe, Austin Hays, Cionel Perez, Ryan O’Hearn, and Jacob Webb, will head into the arbitration hearing process.
