Orioles reach deals with 8 arbitration-eligible players before deadline, including Anthony Santander

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles avoided arbitration with outfielders Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins as well as first baseman Ryan Mountcastle.

The Orioles had a major league-high 13 players eligible for arbitration as Thursday's deadline for players and their teams to swap salary proposals approached. Baltimore settled with eight of them, including three of the top hitters from last year's AL East champions.

Santander, who had 28 home runs and a team-high 95 RBIs in 2023, agreed to an $11.7 million deal for next season, a raise from $7.4 million. Mullins, a steady center fielder who was a 30-30 player in 2021, reached a $6,325,000 agreement. That's up from $4.1 million last year.

Mountcastle hit 18 homers in 115 games last season. He agreed to a $4,137,000 contract for 2024 after making $738,400 last season.

Baltimore also reached agreements with left-hander John Means ($3,325,000), infielder Ramón Urías ($2.1 million), right-hander Tyler Wells ($1,962,500), left-hander Cole Irvin ($2 million) and right-hander Dillon Tate ($1.5 million).

The Orioles' five remaining arbitration-eligible players are: outfielder Austin Hays, first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, left-hander Danny Coulombe, left-hander Cionel Pérez and right-hander Jacob Webb.

Hays is seeking $6.3 million, but the team offered $5.85 million. O'Hearn asked for $3.8 million and the Orioles offered $3.2 million. Coulombe proposed $2.4 million with the team offering $2.2 million. Pérez is seeking $1.4 million and the team offered $1.1 million. Webb is seeking $1 million and the team proposed $925,000.

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