Latest on Orioles and their arbitration-eligible players (updated)

The string of slow-to-nonexistent news days is about to get snipped with the Orioles approaching the deadline to sign their arbitration-eligible players or exchange salary figures.

This counts as actual news, right? Or maybe it depends on your standards. After all, they're under team control no matter the outcome. But at least it's more than a minor league signing.

Deals need to get done by 8 p.m. tonight or risk hearings between Jan. 29 and Feb. 16 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Yes, the deadline is tonight despite the 1,472 articles in Google searches that say Friday. It was changed.

One more time, I hope, are the 13 impacted players and MLBTradeRumors’ projected raises:

Anthony Santander: $7.4 million to $12.7 million
Danny Coulombe: $1 million to $2.2 million
John Means: $2.975 million to $5.93 million
Ryan O’Hearn: $1.4 million to $3 million
Cedric Mullins: $4.1 million to $6.4 million
Austin Hays: $3.2 million to $6.1 million
Dillon Tate: $1.5 million to $1.5 million
Ryan Mountcastle: $738,400 to $4.2 million
Cionel Pérez: $732,300 to $1.3 million
Cole Irvin: $737,600 to $1.8 million
Jacob Webb: $720,000 to $1.2 million
Ramón Urías: $734,700 to $2 million
Tyler Wells: $732,400 to $2.3 million

The total used to be 17 but shortstop Jorge Mateo signed for $2.7 million, left-hander Keegan Akin for $825,000 and outfielders Ryan McKenna and Sam Hilliard for $800,000.

Of the remaining cases, it seems safe to predict at least 10 making the Opening Day roster.

Let’s begin with Santander, the annual winter trade chip who doesn’t leave. He’s the starting right fielder who led the Orioles with 41 doubles and 95 RBIs, tied Gunnar Henderson with 28 home runs and finished second to Henderson with a .472 slugging percentage. Big bat in the order. Big raise coming before free agency.

Mullins, after two stops on the injured list, is the starting center fielder and option to lead off, which he did 46 times to lead the team. But only once after July 1.

Hays is the starting left fielder and backup in center. A Gold Glove finalist. The leadoff hitter in 25 games and cleanup hitter in 25.

Hays batted in every spot in the order except eighth and ninth.

Mountcastle made two stops on the injured list, but first base mainly belongs to him. Only O’Hearn, a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year, made more starts in the cleanup spot with 57. Mountcastle hit fourth in 35 games.

O’Hearn also plays right field to bring added value.

Means is back in the rotation, his exact spot to be determined. Only a health issue would keep him off the roster, and he’s done his time. Let the man pitch.

Wells is a starter or reliever. He can make an impact in both roles. He’s gone from rotation to bullpen in 2022 and 2023.

Coulombe, Pérez and Irvin will be left-handers in the bullpen and could be joined by DL Hall, who isn’t near arbitration status.

Those are the 10 who appear to be locks on the 26-man roster.

Tate has to earn his way onto it after missing last season with forearm and elbow injuries. He’s throwing again and expected to be full-go in camp, with the chance to be as impactful as in 2022. But he has two minor league options remaining.

Can’t make him a lock after what happened in 2023.

Can’t go that far with Urías, either. The infield is a bit unsettled with Jackson Holliday in the running to make his major league debut on Opening Day and Joey Ortiz a possibility for a utility role. Mateo also could complicate Urías’ baseball life.

Webb didn’t allow a run in his first eight appearances after the Orioles claimed him on waivers from the Angels. He had 20 scoreless outings and made the Division Series roster. He’s out of options and in my mock bullpen.

But the finish wasn’t as strong as the start and there are so many possible relief combinations, which could increase if executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias finds another reliever, that I’m hesitant to bestow lock status upon Webb.

I could say it’s definite and get tangled in a Webb of lies.

Update: The Orioles settled with eight of the 13 at the deadline. Salary proposals will be exchanged with the remaining five.

Here are the signing figures per sources and various reports:

Tate: $1.5 million
Means: $3.325 million
Mullins: $6.325 million
Irvin: $2 million
Mountcastle: $4.137 million
Santander: $11.7 million
Urías: $2.1 million
Wells: $1.9625 million

The Orioles can keep negotiating until the hearing dates.