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2013 Contract Issues: Baltimore Orioles

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The Orioles are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:

Eligible For Free Agency (3)

  • Nick Johnson - Johnson has four home runs already, but his injury history means he's a candidate for another incentive-based contract. He won't obtain a qualifying offer from the Orioles, nor will any of the team's other free agents.
  • Endy Chavez - Chavez, who is now on the disabled list, has played in just 20 games and has an OPS below .350.
  • Ronny Paulino - Paulino, 31, continues to find work as a backup catcher. He's likely to sign a one-year deal next offseason.

Contract Options (4)

  • Mark Reynolds: $11MM club option with a $500K buyout. Reynolds has two homers and a .661 OPS, so the Orioles figure to decline this option.
  • Kevin Gregg: $6MM club option vests with 50 games finished in 2012. Gregg isn't a $6MM pitcher, so the Orioles can be expected to decline this option assuming it doesn't vest.
  • Matt Lindstrom: $4MM club option with a $200K buyout. Lindstrom has pitched well in his first 13 outings. If he keeps this up, the Orioles will be tempted by this option following the season.
  • Luis Ayala: $1MM club option with a $100K buyout. Ayala has been effective through 24 1/3 innings, as his 1.85 ERA shows. Expect the Orioles to exercise this option if the right-hander's success continues.

Arbitration Eligible (13)

The Orioles are up against a large class of arbitration eligible players led by first-timers such as Wieters. The switch-hitting catcher could see his salary rise to $4MM or so next season if his strong platform year continues. Johnson's on track for a major raise and Hammel will enjoy a pay increase as well. Eveland, on the other hand, could be non-tendered. Berken has already been up and down from Triple-A twice, but he needs another stint in the Major Leagues to assure himself of arbitration eligibility.

2013 Payroll Obligation

The Orioles have committed $53MM to next year's payroll, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. They've spent approximately $85MM in both of the past two seasons, which means executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette could have as much as $30MM or so to work with in the offseason.

Rosenthal On Pirates, Astros, Rangers

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The acquisition of right-handers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom has proved integral to the Orioles' early season success. The same cannot be said for Jeremy Guthrie, sent to the Rockies by Baltimore in the same trade, as the right-hander has struggled in injury-limited action for Colorado. Let's check in with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports as he catches us up on news and rumors from around the league in his latest column:

  • The Pirates may be strong candidates to trade pitching for hitting the way the Mariners did when they traded Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero. While the Pirates' offense averages fewer than three runs per game their pitching staff has offered glimmers of hope. More specifically, the Pirates' bullpen leads the league in relief ERA with a plethora of quality relievers waiting for an opportunity at Triple-A Indianapolis.
  • Count Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow among the believers who think that the Astros may be buyers at the trade deadline given their plus-11 run differential heading into Memorial Day. “I do think so,” Luhnow said. “I don’t necessarily know if we’ll take on a whole bunch of salary. But we’ll look at every opportunity that comes our way, evaluate it in terms of short-term impact and medium and long-term impact. Look for Houston to attempt to trade Wandy Rodriguez, Carlos Lee and Brett Myers if the team begins to mimic last year's 106-loss club.
  • The inability to move right-hander Koji Uehara during the offseason and later during Spring Training has paid huge dividends for the Rangers this season. After struggling in Arlington upon being acquired from the Orioles, Uehara has rebounded nicely in 2012 by posting a 1.04 ERA with 9.9 K/9 and 1.0 BB/9.

Quick Hits: Oswalt, Dempster, Diamondbacks, Jones

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Sunday afternoon linkage..

  • ‪The Dodgers‬ inquired on Roy Oswalt at one point but don't appear involved now, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).  This morning we learned that Oswalt would still rather play for the Rangers or Cardinals than the Red Sox.
  • Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster hopes to stay in Chicago even though he knows that he could be trade bait, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.  "I want to be here and be part of what’s going to be a bright future," Dempster said.  "Sometimes you have to endure some of the tough times in the present to get to that. We’ll just see how it goes."
  • At certain points, Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers put out feelers with other teams to see what another catcher might cost in trade and didn't like what he heard, writes Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.  Arizona realized what they have in catcher Miguel Montero and locked him up to a five-year extension over the weekend.
  • Orioles center fielder Adam Jones told reporters that securing a no-trade clause in his six-year, $85.5MM contract was important to him, tweets Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.
  • The Nationals could be interested in bringing back Erik Komatsu, who was DFA'd by the Twins earlier today, tweets Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.

Orioles To Extend Adam Jones

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6:29pm: It's a six-year, $85.5MM contract according to Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun (all four Twitter links). There is no seventh year option but there is a no-trade provision, and escalators could push the total value to $91.5MM. Jones will earn $8.5MM in 2013, $13MM in 2014 and 2015, $16MM in 2016 and 2017, and $17MM in 2018 with a $2MM signing bonus.

In terms of total value, it's the second largest largest contract among active center fielders behind Matt Kemp's eight-year, $160MM deal with the Dodgers.

SATURDAY, 5:27pm: Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that the deal is done and an announcement could come today with a press conference tomorrow.

FRIDAY, 10:42am: The deal will cover six years and fall in the $85MM range, Rosenthal and Morosi report (on Twitter). This means the deal will buy out Jones' final arbitration year (presumably for $9-10MM) and five free agent seasons at approximately $15MM per year.

7:41am: Adam Jones is the best player on the first-place team in baseball's most competitive division and the Orioles aren't going to let him slip away. They are nearing a long-term contract extension with the center fielder, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report (plus Twitter links).

Jones completed his physical yesterday and the sides are in the process of completing the final details of the contract. The Orioles are making a commitment "well north" of Miguel Tejada's six-year, $72MM contract and Nick Markakis' six-year, $66MM extension, Rosenthal and Morosi report. This means the CAA Sports client will sign the largest contract in Orioles history. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun expects the deal to be for five or six years and $80-90MM.

Jones, 26, is earning $6.15MM this year as a second-time arbitration eligible player. The extension will buy out one year of arbitration eligibility and an unknown number of free agent seasons.

Jones is hitting .311/.357/.601 in 196 plate appearances this year. He's on his way to establishing career-highs in home runs (14 so far) and slugging percentage. Though he has a career on-base percentage of .322, his walk rate and on-base percentage are both on the rise.

Earlier this month Dave Cameron of FanGraphs compared Jones' breakout to Matt Kemp's 2011 season and suggested an extension in the $120-140MM range could work for both sides. Check out MLBTR's Extension Tracker for more comparable contracts.

Photo courtesy of US Presswire.

AL East Links: Jones, Wieters, Ohlendorf, Yankees

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Dan Duquette gave reporters (including MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli) a brief update on the state of Adam Jones' possible extension with the Orioles, saying that Jones was a "unique case" that led him to break his policy of not negotiating during the season.  “There’s not a lot I can say about it, except I’m encouraged by the fact that Adam wants to stay in Baltimore, we would certainly like him to stay in Baltimore. And hopefully we can work something out here in the short-term," Duquette said.  “I don’t have a real timeline on these things, but hopefully we can get something done.”

Some more from around the AL East…

  • With Jones on the way to an extension, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters told reporters (including Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com) that he isn't concerned about a possible new contract for himself.  MLBTR's Mike Axisa examined Wieters as an extension candidate in March, while MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith (via Twitter) speculates that a Wieters deal could be worth $30-35MM over four years.
  • Also from Ben, he covered the Blue Jays and the Rays today in the latest instalments of MLBTR's 2013 Contract Issues series.
  • Ross Ohlendorf has pitched well at Triple-A Pawtucket and is a strong candidate to be added to the Red Sox 40-man roster before June 1, writes WEEI.com's Alex Speier.  Ohlendorf can opt out of his minor league deal with the Sox if he isn't on the 40-man by that date, though since he has a minor league option left, the team doesn't necessarily have to call him up to the majors.
  • The Yankees have been relying on their veterans this season as their younger players have largely failed to step up, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  A "person who has worked with both" Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances tells Sherman that the two pitchers have a lack of command on their fastballs and "were overhyped" as prospects. 

Stark On Chapman, Twins, Lind, Braves

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Reds GM Walt Jocketty told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that he doesn’t mind the constant discussion surrounding Aroldis Chapman’s role. "I like it. It creates interest in our club, and that's all good,” Jocketty said. “Everybody has a theory on it.” The GM says Chapman would like to start, and that the left-hander will remain in the bullpen for the 2012 season. Here are the rest of Stark’s notes and rumors:

  • Twins people have told rival teams they aren’t likely to trade Justin Morneau this summer.
  • When teams have asked about Denard Span, the Twins have said they aren’t interested in making trades right now, Stark reports. However, there are indications the Twins will listen on Span if the offers are good enough.
  • Stark hears that the Nationals don’t consider Bryce Harper the answer in center field.
  • Scouts and executives from three teams say they don’t have interest in Adam Lind, who was recently optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
  • The Braves are more likely to pursue an impact starting pitcher than a hitter this summer, according to rival teams. GM Frank Wren maintains that Kris Medlen is “probably better than any arm who will be available.” Medlen could join the rotation midseason, according to Wren.
  • Rival teams say the Orioles would like to upgrade at first base and/or third base.
  • Stark hears that Angels manager Mike Scioscia doesn’t have to worry about his job security. The skipper is under contract through 2018.

Orioles Designate Bill Hall For Assignment

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The Orioles announced that they designated utility player Bill Hall for assignment. They optioned Luis Exposito to Triple-A and recalled Stu Pomeranz and Ronny Paulino in corresponding moves.

The Orioles signed Hall to a minor league deal in April and selected his contract on May 12th. Hall became the 22nd Oriole in team history to homer in his first game with Baltimore, but appeared in just five more games before losing his roster spot. Hall had signed a minor league deal with the Yankees in February, and elected free agency in April. He has MLB experience at every position but catcher and first base.

Adam Jones Extension Reactions

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The Orioles are nearing a six-year, $85MM contract extension with center fielder Adam Jones. The deal, which is the largest in Orioles franchise history, will cover his final arbitration season (2013) and five free agent years (2014-18). Here are some notes on and reactions to the deal:

  • The deal's a win-win for Jones and the Orioles, Dave Cameron of FanGraphs writes. Cameron points out that we can expect more walks from Jones as he gains experience and notes that $75MM — the amount Baltimore committed to the center fielder's free agent years — doesn't always buy much on the open market.
  • The Orioles could have acquired John Lannan, Drew Storen and Steve Lombardozzi from the Nationals for Jones over winter, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (on Twitter). Washington GM Mike Rizzo loves Jones, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter).
  • An NL executive says the Orioles did well to extend Jones instead of trading him last offseason, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes (on Twitter).
  • MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli‏ had been under the impression that the Orioles would have lost Jones to free agency after 2013 if they had waited until next offseason to discuss an extension (Twitter link).

AL East Links: Orioles, Oswalt, Jones, Nova

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On this date in 2006, the Yankees acquired infielder Nick Green from the Devil Rays for cash. As our Transaction Tracker shows, it's the only trade ever made between the two division rivals. Here's the latest from the AL East…

  • "We're always interested in the pitching market and any developments in the market," said Orioles GM Dan Duquette to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com when asked about the team's reported interest in Roy Oswalt. He wouldn't confirm if the club has watched Oswalt throw recently.
  • Duquette also told Kubatko that a contract extension with Adam Jones is not imminent, and he wouldn't confirm if the Orioles and their star center fielder have spoken recently.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Orioles put a waiver claim in on John Gaub, but lost it to the Rangers because they have a better record (Twitter links). Baltimore came into the day 28-17 while Texas is 27-18.
  • “My impression is not only do [the Steinbrenners] all love being part of [owning the Yankees], I think they are interested in handing it to their kids,” said Yankees GM Brian Cashman to Joel Sherman of The New York Post when asked about rumors of the team potentially going up for sale.
  • ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. wrote about Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova and his path to the big leagues. He worked out for the Red Sox in the Dominican Republic but said "I really didn't want to sign with Boston … My father and I were both Yankee fans."
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