Orioles hope to avoid arbitration with 6 players; Spring training report dates; O’Hearn clears waivers

The Orioles have six players eligible for arbitration, and if a contract agreement isn’t reached by Friday, the players and teams must exchange figures for an arbitration hearing.

Outfielders Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander, shortstop Jorge Mateo and pitchers Dillon Tate and Austin Voth are not signed.

According to MLBTradeRumors.com, they project Santander to earn $7.5 million in 2023. Santander, who received $3.15 million in 2022 after losing in arbitration in 2021 when he earned $2.1 million, hit .240 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs last season. He still has another season of arbitration eligibility remaining.

Mullins, who’s in his first year of eligibility, could earn $4.4 million. A year after becoming the first player in franchise history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, Mullins hit .258 with 16 homers and 64 RBIs. His 34 stolen bases were second in the American League to Mateo. He earned $716,500 last season.

Hays, also in his first year of eligibility, could get $3.1 million. He hit .250 with 16 home runs and 60 RBIs, though he slumped badly after the All-Star break when he hit only .220 with four home runs and 14 RBIs. Last season, Hays earned $713,000.

Mateo had a breakout 2022, playing brilliantly at shortstop, and is due for a large raise. Offensively, Mateo hit only .221 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs. His 35 steals led the American League, and he had an outstanding 2.4 Defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement.) Last season, Mateo made $709,500 in his first full major league season and could be in line for $1.8 million.

Voth was a happy surprise after he was claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals on June 7^th. He started and pitched in relief, with a 5-4 record and 3.04 ERA Last year, he made $875,000 with the Nationals, and he could make $2 million.

Tate was ultra-reliable in the bullpen. He was 4-4 with a 3.05 ERA and five saves in 67 games. He struck out 60 and walked just 16 in 73 2/3 innings. His salary is expected to more than double from $711,500 to $1.5 million.

Under executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, the Orioles have insisted that unless a deal was reached by the deadline for exchanging figures, they’d go to arbitration with no further negotiating.

That was the case with Santander in 2021, but last year the team signed their two highest-profile players — Trey Mancini and John Means — to 2022 contracts with a $10 million mutual option in Mancini’s case and a $2.976 million 2023 salary for Means. Because of the lockout, the arbitration deadline didn’t occur until after spring training began. Mancini’s settlement came before the season, and Means’ came on May 21^st, after he had Tommy John surgery.

Report dates: Oriole pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training on February 15^th and have their first workout at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota a day later. Position players are scheduled to report on February 20^th. The first full-squad workout is February 21^st.

Players participating in the World Baseball Classic have earlier report dates.

Tate (Team USA) and Dean Kremer (Team Israel), will report on February 13^th.  Mullins (Team USA) and Santander (Team Venezuela) will report on February 16^th.

Grapefruit League play will begin on February 25^th when the Orioles play the Minnesota Twins at home.

O’Hearn stays: Ryan O’Hearn, the left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder the Orioles traded for on January 3rd and then designated for assignment two days later, cleared outright waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

O’Hearn will be in spring training to compete for the backup first baseman’s job. Lewin Díaz, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday when the Orioles acquired left-handed pitcher Darwinzon Hernandez, could join the competition if he clears waivers as well.