Latest review of arbitration-eligible O's (Severino update)

The baseball offseason wouldn't feel complete unless the names of arbitration-eligible players and projected raises were recited weekly until the deadline, which mercifully is arriving on Wednesday.

There were seven Orioles on the original list. Yolmer Sánchez increased it to eight, but Renato Núñez came off after being designated for assignment and granted his release.

Trades are possible in the coming days, just as the Orioles dealt infielder Jonathan Villar and starter Dylan Bundy last year. Bundy was tendered a contract prior to his trade to the Angels for four minor league pitchers, including Isaac Mattson, who's on the 40-man roster and set up to compete for a bullpen job in spring training.

The seven-man roll call consists of Sánchez, infielders Hanser Alberto and Pat Valaika, pitcher Shawn Armstrong, catcher Pedro Severino, and outfielders Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander.

I saved the two slam dunks for last. Mancini and Santander will be given contracts for 2021. Put away the pitchforks.

(Here comes the part of the arbitration-eligible tradition where I provide last season's salary and the projection. As always, continue to breathe normally.)

Mancini's salary was set at $4.75 million prior to the coronavirus pandemic and MLBTradeRumors.com estimates that he'll earn $4.8 million next summer. Santander's salary is supposed to jump from $572,500 to $1.7 million after he was named Most Valuable Oriole and a finalist for a Gold Glove in right field.

Sánchez was claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Oct. 30. He had to settle for a minor league deal with the Giants after the White Sox non-tendered him to avoid a projected salary of $6.2 million in arbitration.

The Orioles could make him the starting second baseman, where he won a Gold Glove in 2019 after posting a league-leading 11 Defensive Runs Saved and a majors-best 5.0 Ulitmate Zone Rate/150, if they don't retain Alberto. They could make him a backup at multiple infield positions.

They also could non-tender him and explain later why they made the claim and then cut him loose.

Alberto is vulnerable to a non-tender with a projected salary of $2.3 million, a raise from his non-prorated $1.65 million that might be deemed excessive for a player who isn't a difference-maker with the glove, has limited power and owns a .300 on-base percentage and .678 OPS.

He's one of the clubhouse leaders. He's one of its most popular players. He has a nice smile. He posts a high average against left-handers. But is that sufficient in cost-cutting pandemic times?

Valaika was super valuable to the Orioles this summer with his versatility and the threat he posed at the plate. Were you expecting eight home runs in 52 games?

It simply comes down to whether they want to pay around $1.1 million for a utility player whose salary was set at $573,500 last year.

Not a bad total if he's the starter at second base. Not a bad total on clubs that spend more freely and aren't in a rebuild.

The Orioles have utility alternatives, which I listed again yesterday. He could get the roller derby hip check and come off the roster.

Armstrong's value in the bullpen goes beyond his production, which was superb in 2020 - including a 1.80 ERA and 0.800 WHIP in 15 innings and only one home run surrendered. The experience level plummeted with the trades of Richard Bleier, Mychal Givens and Miguel Castro. He qualifies as a veteran leader on this team.

He's also projected to make $800,000 next season, a raise from $573,500 that might be viewed as too rich for a non-closer and non-setup man.

The Orioles are expected to sign a veteran reliever later in the winter. They could give Mattson a shot in Armstrong's role. Or they could hold onto him and remember how much they missed him during his stint on the injured list.

Severino is an interesting case. His salary would jump from $576,000 to $1.4 million per MLBTradeRumors.com after he batted .159/.232/.206 with no home runs or RBIs in September and disappointed defensively.

Severino supplies some power, with 13 home runs in 2019, and there isn't an obvious replacement for him. Perhaps it's time to just hand the job to Chance Sisco and wait for Adley Rutschman. Austin Wynns also is on the 40-man roster, though he didn't get beyond the taxi squad.

Another catcher is likely to join the organization, but not necessarily a proven starter. He could be more in the Bryan Holaday/Taylor Davis mold.

Plop Severino into the pile of vulnerable arbitration-eligible Orioles.

Update: Severino has agreed to a $1.825 million deal to avoid arbitration, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.