Tough free-agent market for many former Orioles

In a market full of free-agent starters, Corbin Burnes was the most prized and signed a six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Most of the other quality starters have signed and done well for themselves.

While Burnes got a big contract, players who were with the team last season, and in recent years, are still looking for a place to play in 2025.

Like Burnes, slugging outfielder Anthony Santander could have returned to the Orioles for the $21.05 million qualifying offer that he rejected. The Orioles moved on and signed another slugging outfielder, Tyler O’Neill, for three years and $49.5 million with an opt-out after this coming season.

That was for fewer years and less money than Santander is reportedly seeking. There have been reports that the Toronto Blue Jays have expressed interest. The Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels supposedly have, too.

Santander probably will sign soon, joining outfielder Austin Slater, who accepted a one-year, $1.75 million offer from the Chicago White Sox. Among those who haven’t been as fortunate is James McCann, one of the best catchers remaining in a thin free-agent market. At 35, McCann would be an excellent backup as he was for Adley Rutschman.

McCann overlapped on the Orioles with left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe. The Orioles declined to pick up Coulombe’s $4 million option in November, and he’s still available. Coulombe is 35, but he missed more than half the 2024 season after surgery on his left elbow to remove bone chips.

Action on the reliever market is beginning to pick up, and the hottest name is former Oriole left-hander Tanner Scott. MLBTradeRumors.com rated Scott as the 14^th-best free agent available in November and predicted he’d get a four-year, $56 million contract. They tabbed Santander as the ninth best free agent.

The Orioles traded Scott to the Miami Marlins just before the 2022 season, and he had strong seasons in 2023 and 2024. The Marlins dealt Scott, who was a National League All-Star in 2024, to San Diego at the trade deadline. Scott pitched in 72 games and was 9-6 with a 1.75 ERA and 22 saves. He allowed just 5.6 hits per nine innings.

Starting pitcher Jack Flaherty is on the free-agent market, too. Flaherty, who spent an unhappy final two months of the 2023 season with the Orioles, should be able to find a team soon. When free agency began, he was the eighth-best free agent available with a predicted five-year, $115 million contract.

Oriole fans have wondered about John Means, who’s a free agent. Means had his second Tommy John surgery last June, and other than some talk around the Winter Meetings that the Boston Red Sox had interest, there hasn’t been chatter about him.

In July 2023, Austin Hays was the starting centerfielder in the American League All-Star Game. Now, he can’t find a job. Hays was traded by the Orioles to the Philadelphia Phillies last July 26^th for reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. He played just 22 games for the Phillies and wasn’t offered a contract.

Craig Kimbrel, who began the season as the Orioles’ closer, was released in the last week of the regular season after a 10.59 ERA in the second half hasn’t signed elsewhere.

Kyle Gibson was an important part of the Orioles’ clubhouse in 2023. He led the American League with 33 starts and was 15-9 with a 4.73 ERA for a team that won 101 games and the American League East. Gibson signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and was 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA in 30 starts.

There are other recent Orioles without teams, too: infielders Adam Frazier, Tony Kemp and José Iglesias, relievers Shintaro Fujinami, Dillon Tate and Austin Voth.

With about a month before spring training begins, there’s still time but some might have to settle for minor league contracts and spring training invitations.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.