Orioles offer contracts to seven arbitration-eligible players

The Orioles have tendered contracts to every player currently on their 40-man roster, taking the course of action deemed the most obvious.

They were parked in a drama-free zone when it came to their seven arbitration-eligibles.

Third baseman Manny Machado, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, starter Kevin Gausman, relievers Zach Britton and Brad Brach, shortstop Tim Beckham and catcher Caleb Joseph were offered contracts prior to the 8 p.m. deadline. Machado, Britton and Brach are entering their free agent seasons.

MLBTradeRumors.com projected Machado's salary to increase from $11.5 million to $17.3 million, Britton's from $11.4 million $12.2 million, Schoop's from $3.475 million to $9.1 million, Gausman's from $3.345 million to $6.8 million, Brach's from $3.05 million to $5.2 million, Beckham's from $885,000 to $3.1 million and Joseph's from $700,000 to $1.4 million.

The sides will submit their contract proposals if unable to reach agreement.

Brach and Joseph went to arbitration hearings prior to the 2017 season. Brach won his case, making the Orioles 11-2 in hearings since Peter Angelos became majority owner, but Joseph lost after seeking a raise from $523,500 to $1 million.

Machado batted .259/.310/.471 - a career-low average - with 33 doubles, one triple, 33 home runs and 95 RBIs in 156 games and he was a finalist for a Gold Glove in the American League. He hit .290/.326/.500 in the second half and was chosen as the AL's Player of the Month in August.

Britton made two stops on the disabled list with a strained left forearm and was shut down in September due to soreness in his knee. He was limited to 38 appearances in 37 1/3 innings, posting a 2.89 ERA and recording 15 saves. He went 47-for-47 in 2016 and finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting.

Schoop was chosen as Most Valuable Oriole and made his first All-Star team while batting .293/.338/.503 with 35 doubles, 32 home runs and 105 RBIs in 160 games. He placed 12th in AL Most Valuable Player voting.

Gausman, named the opening day starter, went 11-12 with a 4.68 ERA and 1.495 WHIP in a career-high 34 starts. Brach was 4-5 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.132 WHIP and 18 saves over 67 appearances. Beckham, acquired from the Rays on July 31 for minor league pitcher Tobias Myers, batted .394/.417/.646 with 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 19 RBIs in August and .180/.255/.348 with three doubles, four home runs and seven RBIs in September.

An arbitration hearing would be fascinating, though neither side covets it.

Joseph batted .256/.287/.413 with 14 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 89 games. He didn't have an RBI last summer in 49 games.

With Welington Castillo declining his $7 million option for next season, Joseph could get regular duty behind the plate or perhaps work in a platoon.

Castillo agreed to terms this afternoon on a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox that includes an $8 million club option for 2020.

The Orioles will check the list of non-tendered players and determine whether someone fits in their rotation or bullpen, or whether there's a left-handed bat to be plugged into the lineup.

"That's always a possibility," executive vice president Dan Duquette said last night on the "Orioles Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "There will be some good players available on that market. That's another way we could add to the ballclub."