Orioles must offer contracts today to arbitration players

Major League Baseball has reached another important deadline today, with teams required to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players. It’s known as the “non-tender” date. Good for baseball, bad for steakhouse chefs.

The Orioles went a surprising 17-for-17 last year and they have 13 players to consider this afternoon. As usual, there are the slam dunks and the shaky on the perimeters.

The list stood at 16 before the Orioles did some whittling, including the decision to pick up left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez’s $2.2 million option for 2025. They could have declined it and negotiated a new deal.

Pitchers Matt Bowman and Burch Smith elected free agency rather than outright assignments.

At the risk of being wrong again, which never stops me from trying, I’ll predict that the Orioles go 13-for-13.

MLBTradeRumors.com projects a $1.4 million salary for corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who appeared in 27 games and batted .313/.370/.578 with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 14 RBIs. The Orioles selected him on waivers from the Marlins on Aug. 21 and he probably gave them more than anticipated, which led to his inclusion on the Wild Card roster.

What makes Rivera vulnerable is a crowded infield and his lack of a minor league option. He’d need to make the team in spring training, those odds reduced if the Orioles don’t experience injuries or consummate a trade. Otherwise, he’d have to pass through waivers and be outrighted.

Center fielder Cedric Mullins is projected with the highest salary at $8.7 million after batting .234/.305/.405 with 16 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and 32 stolen bases over 147 games. His 2.3 fWAR ranked seventh on the club.

The second half provided reminders of Mullins’ value. He slashed .266/.374/.457 with nine homers in 60 games – the same amount as he hit in 87 games before the break. His 23 RBIs were only eight fewer than his first-half total, and those 32 steals were divided equally.

The offense experienced a collapse, but Mullins batted .286/.368/.488 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 23 September games, and he provided the only run in Game 2 with a homer while going 3-for-7 in the series.

Defense metrics don’t flatter Mullins, but manager Brandon Hyde and teammates constantly praise him.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle’s salary is projected at $6.6 million, the second-highest among the eligibles. Moving in the left field wall could unlock the power that’s declined.

Mountcastle hit .271/.308/.425 with 30 doubles, two triples, 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 124 games. He missed a month with a sprained left wrist.

Catcher Adley Rutschman ($5.8 million) and pitchers Dean Kremer ($3.5 million), Kyle Bradish ($2.1 million), Tyler Wells ($2.1 million), Jacob Webb ($1.7 million) and Keegan Akin ($1.4 million) are the locks barring something happening that blindsides. Bradish and Wells won’t pitch before the break while recovering from elbow surgery.

I should mention that MLBTradeRumors.com listed Wells as a non-tender candidate, for what that's worth.

Reliever Gregory Soto ($5.6 million) should be safe as a southpaw for the bullpen who, I’ll say again, didn’t allow a run in 18 of his last 20 appearances. He isn't cheap. That's the only reason for a modicum of uncertainty.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers ($2.8 million) struggled in four starts but it’s a small sample size and the Orioles set up a program for him in Triple-A and during the offseason, pinpointing areas he could improve. He’s expected to compete for a rotation spot in camp.

Ramón Urías ($3.1 million) profiles again as a valuable utility player, and he hit .278/.343/.476 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 44 games after the break. A sprained ankle on Aug. 31 robbed the Orioles of their hottest bat. He returned Sept. 22 and had seven hits in his first six games, and he collected two hits in the playoffs.

A fly ball to left field in Game 2 would have been a home run before the wall moved back. The Orioles are expected to bring back Urías.

You know where that leaves us – infielder Jorge Mateo, projected to make $3.2 million after batting .229/.267/.401 in 68 games and undergoing elbow surgery that could impact his availability for the start of camp.

The speed and defense lead the Orioles to go easy on the offensive numbers. He can impact games. And they’re talking right now as if he’s in their 2025 plans.

This story will be updated.

* Gunnar Henderson finished fourth in American League Most Valuable Player voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Aaron Judge received all 30 first-place votes, followed by Bobby Witt Jr., who received all 30 second-place votes. Juan Soto finished with 21 third, seventh fourth and two fifth.

Henderson received six third, 16 fourth and eight fifth. Anthony Santander was 14th with one eighth and one 10th.