Orioles sign Steve Pearce, minor leaguer Austin Anderson suspended

The Orioles are down to three unsigned arbitration players after agreeing to terms today with Steve Pearce on a contract for the 2015 season.

Pearce will receive $3.7 million, exactly at the midpoint after the sides exchanged figures.

Pearce submitted $5.4 million and the Orioles countered at $2 million. He made $850,000 last season.

It was a breakout year for Pearce after the Orioles released him on April 25 and re-signed him four days later. He set career highs in games (102), plate appearances (383), runs (51), hits (99), doubles, (26), home runs (21), RBIs (49), slugging percentage (.556), OPS (.930), walks (40) and stolen bases (five).

Pearce batted .293/.373/.556 last season, .329/.416/.600 with 12 home runs in 51 games at Camden Yards, .327/.405/.704 in 111 plate appearances against left-handers and .319/.390/.569 with 28 RBIs in 82 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

Not to downplay the work of his agent, but I could have gotten Pearce a healthy raise.

Pearce doesn't have a set position this year after the Orioles traded for Travis Snider earlier this week, but he can play left field, right field and first base and also serve as the designated hitter on days that Delmon Young doesn't start.

Manager Buck Showalter also wants Pearce to take ground balls at third base this spring.

The Orioles began the offseason with 11 arbitration-eligible players. Here are the last three without contracts for 2015:

* Zach Britton submitted $4.2 million and the Orioles countered at $2.2 million. He made $521,500 last season.

* Miguel Gonzalez submitted $3.95 million and the Orioles countered at $2.5 million. He made $529,000 last season.

* Alejandro De Aza submitted $5.650 million and the Orioles countered at $5 million. He made $4.25 million last season.

It appears that De Aza is the most likely to end up in a hearing next month despite the modest gap between the two sides.

The Sun first reported Pearce's deal.

Meanwhile, minor league third baseman Austin Anderson has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine, a stimulant in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension of Anderson, who is currently on the roster of the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, will be effective at the start of the 2015 season.

The Orioles selected Anderson, 22, in the ninth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Mississippi. He batted .307/.354/.403 with 12 doubles, one triple, one home run and 19 RBIs in 49 games with short-season Single-A Aberdeen.