Orioles To Re-Sign Logan Ondrusek

DEC. 13: Ondrusek’s option is worth $1.5MM, reports Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com. Connolly lists Ondrusek’s salary at $650K and notes that it isn’t guaranteed, as the O’s can recoup some of the money if they cut him before Opening Day (in that sense, it seems structured like an arbitration agreement). Ondrusek can also earn up to $500K of incentives in both years of the deal, as he’ll take home $100K for reaching 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 appearances on the season. The contract also allows him to be optioned to the minors without first clearing waivers.

DEC. 12: The Orioles have agreed to a one-year, $625K deal to bring back righty Logan Ondrusek, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). Baltimore also picks up a 2018 option in the agreement.

Ondrusek, 31, came to the O’s in a rare mid-season acquisition from Japan. He had been producing quality results for the Yakult Swallows, working to a 2.17 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in the 99 2/3 frames he threw from the start of 2015.

Upon his arrival, though, he struggled in seven major league appearances. Ondrusek allowed seven earned runs on nine hits, striking out four and walking three. The O’s declined a club option (at an unknown value) earlier in the offseason.

Ondrusek did show that he’s still bringing a roughly 93 mph fastball, and obviously Baltimore thinks he can contribute again in the big leagues. He has 277 total MLB frames under his belt, all with the Reds with the exception of his brief O’s stint. All told, he carries a 4.03 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9.