This, that and the other

Tyler O’Neill’s status as the first player signed to a multi-year contract since Mike Elias’ hiring as executive vice president/general manager in November 2018 comes with a caveat attached to it.

O’Neill can opt out of his three-year, $49.5 million deal after the 2025 season. He can dive back into free agency and search for a more lucrative offer or fulfill the entirety of his agreement.

The Orioles can get a year from O’Neill as the replacement for free agent Anthony Santander, with power, on-base ability and upgraded defensive at multiple outfield positions with his two Gold Gloves in St. Louis, and pivot again in the offseason – whether staying in-house or working the free agent and trade markets. They can plan on having him for three seasons to go with Colton Cowser and eventually 2023 first-round pick Enrique Bradfield Jr.

If O’Neill decides to opt out, the Orioles are allowed to make him a qualifying offer and, if declined, receive a compensatory draft pick. They could get something back beyond his production for one season.

Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander were among the dozen players to decline the $21.05 million. Burnes signed with the Diamondbacks for six years and $210 million, giving the Orioles the 30^th-overall selection in the draft. They already owned the 19^th and will net another if Santander signs for north of $50 million.

The latest reports on Santander suggest that he could accept a shorter-term deal than the five years he initially sought. The Blue Jays, Tigers and Angels are teams reported to have interest.

Other former Orioles still on the market include outfielder Austin Hays, backup catcher James McCann, starter John Means and reliever Danny Coulombe. Closer Craig Kimbrel also is unsigned, but I don’t know whether he’s hoping to pitch in 2025. I haven’t read a single rumor about him.

* The 40-man roster used to hold four catchers, but it's down to two with Gary Sánchez and Adley Rutschman.

That didn't take long.

René Pinto was designated for assignment on Jan. 3 when the Orioles signed starter Charlie Morton. The Diamondbacks claimed Pinto on Friday.

Blake Hunt was designated for assignment yesterday after reliever Andrew Kittredge passed his physical and signed his one-year deal with an option for 2026. Hunt and infielder Livan Soto are in limbo, the latter designated for assignment Friday when the Orioles claimed pitcher Roansy Contreras on waivers from the Reds.

The Orioles acquired Hunt from the Mariners on May 22, 2024 for reliever Mike Baumann and catcher Michael Pérez. He hasn't played in the majors.

Hunt batted .179 with a .497 OPS in 42 games with Triple-A Norfolk. The Tides' roster already includes catchers Samuel Basallo, Maverick Handley and David Bañuelos.

* The Orioles went 11-for-12 in signing arbitration-eligible players when counting corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who agreed to a $1 million contract on tender date. Ten of the remaining 11 signed on Thursday.

The lone exception was infielder Jorge Mateo, who is seeking a $4 million contract. The Orioles countered at $3.1 million.

The club is file-and-go, with some exceptions made on contracts for multiple years (Means) or that include an option (Coulombe, Trey Mancini, Ryan O’Hearn, Cionel Pérez).

The Orioles view Mateo as an important part of the team after losing him last summer to an elbow injury and subsequent reconstructive surgery. He could increase value as a backup outfielder, with the Orioles expected to carry seven infielders. But baseball is a business and the delay in a contract agreement and possible hearing isn’t personal.

“This is just a feature of the system of deciding people’s salaries,” Elias said last week. “Sometimes, clubs and players or the respective sides as a whole just don’t see eye-to-eye on a particular case, and that’s where the system kicks in. But we’ve had recent examples of avenues that have avoided hearings within our policy, and to the degree that those arise again, I wouldn’t rule that out. But where it’s at right now, we’re file-to-go. That’s the present standing.”

* The Pirates signed former Orioles reliever Burch Smith to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Smith appeared in 25 games after signing on June 27, a week after the Marlins released him, and registered a 5.74 ERA and 1.050 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings. He elected free agency on Oct. 31 after the Orioles outrighted him.

Pittsburgh’s 13 non-roster invitees also includes reliever Isaac Mattson, released by the Orioles in July 2022 – three years after they acquired him from the Angels along with Kyle Bradish, Zach Peek and Kyle Brnovich in the Dylan Bundy trade. The Pirates signed him in December 2023 and again in November 2024.

* Reliever Nick Anderson still is slated to work out for teams on Jan. 23 at Baseball Performance Center in New Jersey.

The Orioles signed Anderson to a minor league deal on Aug. 29 but he didn’t get back to the majors. A strained Achilles tendon at Triple-A Norfolk eliminated that possibility.

The club hasn’t committed yet to attending Anderson’s pro day. A minor league contract is complicated by the depth at Triple-A.

Anderson is seeking a major league deal after appearing in 37 games with the Royals last summer and 35 with the Braves in 2023.