Waiting on Vallimont, O'Hearn and more

Another day begins for the Orioles with two players still uncertain where they’re headed. Do they stay or do they go?

Pitcher Chris Vallimont was designated for assignment Jan. 3 after the Orioles acquired first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn from the Royals for cash considerations. O’Hearn was designated for assignment two days later after the Orioles again claimed first baseman Lewin Díaz off waivers.

An update on Vallimont could come later today since it’s been a week.

The Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Twins on May 25, with left-hander Alexander Wells moving to the 60-day injured list. Vallimont made three starts with Double-A Bowie and allowed one run in 13 innings, and he had a 5.38 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in 16 games (12 starts) with Triple-A Norfolk.

The constant movement with pitchers between the majors and minors couldn’t nudge Vallimont toward the Orioles. His debut remains on hold since the Marlins drafted him in the fifth round in 2018 from Mercyhurst University.

Vallimont was traded to the Twins in a 2019 deal that included Díaz. Because it’s a small baseball world.

O’Hearn could clear waivers and compete for a job as a backup first baseman and corner outfielder. He appeared to be headed that way while on the 40-man roster but was put in limbo later in the week.

Speaking of Wells, he remains a minor league free agent. He made two relief appearances last season, allowing two solo home runs and five hits with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, and went on the injured list with a UCL strain. The Orioles outrighted him in September.

Infielders Rougned Odor and Richie Martin, catcher Robinson Chirinos, first baseman Jesús Aguilar, outfielders DJ Stewart and Yusniel Díaz, and pitchers Matt Harvey and Chris Ellis also remain major league or minor league free agents.

Odor and Chirinos would appear to have no shot at coming back with the Adam Frazier signing and the trade for James McCann. Aguilar is doubtful because the Orioles are searching for a left-handed hitter to play first base and rotate into the designated hitter spot.

Catchers Brett Cumberland (Giants) and Jacob Nottingham (Mariners) landed minor league deals with other clubs. Outfielder Brett Phillips agreed yesterday to a $1.2 million deal with the Angels.

The rise in payroll that we’ve heard about since August includes the upcoming raises for six arbitration players: outfielders Anthony Santander, Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays, infielder Jorge Mateo and pitchers Austin Voth and Dillon Tate. They were tendered contracts at the deadline, but the sides have until Friday to agree to terms or risk going to hearings.

MLBTradeRumors.com projects that Santander will make $7.5 million, Mullins $4.4 million, Hays $3.1 million, Voth $2 million, Mateo $1.8 million and Tate $1.5 million. A total of $20.3 million if accurate.

That’s the starting outfield by anyone’s estimation, the likely starter at shortstop, one of the high-leverage relievers and Voth, who could be in the rotation or work in long relief.

The Orioles settled last year with Trey Mancini and John Means after salary figures were exchanged. Means, recovering from Tommy John surgery, signed for $5.925 million over two years.

The deal was announced on May 21, the same day that catcher Adley Rutschman made his major league debut. And Ryan Mountcastle was reinstated from the injured list. And Mike Baumann was recalled.

Just another slow day on the beat.

Means sought $3.1 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility and the Orioles countered at $2.7 million. He was limited to only two starts before the injury.

Santander went to a hearing in 2021 and lost, receiving $2.1 million instead of $2.475 million. Otherwise, the Orioles usually get these deals done.

The next international signing period begins on Sunday, and Baseball America has the Oriole signing 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Luis Almeyda for more than $2 million. MLBPipeline.com ranks him as the No. 20 prospect.

Almeyda is listed at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, and he eventually could move to third base. Scouts believe he has the potential to become a five-tool player.

Here’s what Baseball America’s Ben Badler wrote about Almeyda back in September:

“Almeyda was well known from an early age on the college recruiting trail when he was growing up in New Jersey. While he could have had his pick among some of the top college programs in the country, he instead moved to the Dominican Republic and will sign for what should be a bonus above $2 million as an international free agent. At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Almeyda has a long, lanky build with righthanded power that has started to spike as he's begun to fill out, typically putting together solid at-bats with a mature approach for his age. Almeyda has smooth actions and is light on his feet at shortstop, where he has a chance to stick, though depending on how much more he grows he could end up at third base.”