Orioles reach agreement with free-agent outfielder Tyler O’Neill on 3-year, $49.5 million contract

The Orioles have the right-handed hitting outfielder they’ve been seeking They’ve reached an agreement with Tyler O’Neill, who played for the Boston Red Sox, on a three-year contract worth $49.5 million, according to an industry source. O’Neill may opt out after the 2025 season.

News of the deal, which is pending a physical, was first reported by The New York Post’s Jon Heyman

O’Neill, who’s 29, hit 31 home runs, drove in 61 runs and hit .241 for the Red Sox. He had an .847 OPS. O’Neill struck out 159 times and walked 53 times in 113 games.

He would replace Anthony Santander in right field. Santander, who hit 44 home runs, seventh-most in club history, last season is also a free agent.

While O’Neill has mostly played left field, he did start in right field 34 times for the Red Sox last year.

The three-year contract is the first multi-year deal handed out by executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias since he took over baseball operations in November 2018.

O’Neill played for St. Louis from 2018-2023 and in 2021 had career bests with 34 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .286 average and a .912 OPS.

In the final series against the Orioles from September 9^th-11^th, O’Neill hit three home runs and drove in six runs for Boston. On September 11^th, he hit a three-run homer in the 10^th inning against Keegan Akin to win the game.