Orioles and Schoop agree to contract terms for 2018 (updated)

The Orioles have avoided an arbitration hearing with second baseman Jonathan Schoop, with the sides agreeing to terms on an $8.5 million contract for 2018, according to an industry source.

Schoop filed at $9 million and the Orioles countered at $7.5 million. He made $3.475 million last season.

A hearing was scheduled for Thursday in Phoenix, Ariz.

Despite the usual reports that the Orioles were file and trial, they maintained a dialogue with Schoop's representative, Steve Veltman from The Legacy Agency, and managed to hammer out a deal.

Kevin Gausman is the club's last arbitration-eligible player without a contract for the 2018 season and his hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14. Gausman filed at $6.225 million and the Orioles countered at $5.3 million. He made $3.345 million last year.

The team has expressed a desire to negotiate an extension with Schoop, who was chosen as Most Valuable Oriole and made his first All-Star appearance while batting .293/.338/.503 with 35 doubles, 32 home runs and 105 RBIs in 160 games. He placed 12th in American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Today's agreement could smooth over some ruffled feathers after Schoop, apparently under the advisement of Veltman, chose to skip FanFest on Jan. 27 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Manager Buck Showalter contacted Veltman to voice his displeasure and maintained the same stance while addressing season ticket holders and the media. Executive vice president Dan Duquette also expressed his disappointment.

Gausman also is repped by The Legacy Agency.

The Orioles are 11-2 in hearings since Peter G. Angelos became managing partner. Reliever Brad Brach beat them in arbitration last winter. Catcher Caleb Joseph also went to a hearing and lost after another unsuccessful attempt to sign him.

The club usually continues to negotiate past the deadline for reaching agreements. The one exception came in 2015 with outfielder Alejandro De Aza, who lost and had to accept $5 million instead of the $5.65 million that he sought.

Brach, Joseph, closer Zach Britton, shortstop Manny Machado and third baseman Tim Beckham - the latter two switching positions - agreed to terms last month to avoid arbitration.

The Athletic first reported Schoop's contract terms.

Update: Schoop also will be paid $50,000 in bonuses if he makes the All-Star team and $50,000 for winning a Gold Glove, according to USA Today.