The MLB offseason is in full swing after the winter meetings have come to an end. The Baltimore Orioles have not yet signed a big-name free agent, but they added bullpen depth by signing reliever Craig Kimbrel. Fans of the Baltimore Orioles are eager for a big splash before opening day on March 28th, but the team has brought back key pieces of the team that won their division a season ago.
The Orioles and pitcher John Means have agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.325 million. Means spent the last two-plus years on the IL after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021. He was finally able to return to the majors late in the 2023 season and pitched to an ERA of 2.66 in four starts with the O’s. His most notable start of the season came on September 23 against the Cleveland Guardians. Means went 7.1 innings and allowed just one run on one hit and struck out four in a 2-1 win. The only run Means allowed that night was a solo home run by Andres Gimenez in the seventh inning.
Cedric Mullins has signed a one-year, $6.325 million contract with the O’s. Similar to his teammate, Mullins also dealt with injuries in 2023. A groin injury suffered in late May hampered his success at the plate, but his defense didn’t skip a beat. Mullins had a batting average of .233 with 15 home runs and 74 RBIs in 12 games. Cedric’s most notable game of the season was when he hit for the cycle on May 13th against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mullins smacked the first pitch of his last at-bat over the right field wall to give him the cycle in a 6-3 win for the O’s.
Ryan Mountcastle and the Orioles agree on a one-year deal worth $4.137 million for 2023. Mountcastle emerged as the clear-cut starter at first base for the O’s with a strong 2023 season. Mountcastle hit .270 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs in 115 games. We’re beginning to sound like a broken record here, but Mountcastle dealt with a multitude of injuries throughout the year. Vertigo interrupted the beginning of his season, and he finally found a groove late before a back issue interrupted his return. Mountcastle can be one of the more valuable players for the Orioles in 2024, provided he can stay on the diamond.
Lefty pitcher Cole Irvin signed a one-year deal worth $2 million to avoid arbitration. Irvin was originally brought in as a starter but finished in the bullpen with the injury to Felix Bautista late in 2023. Irvin had a 4.42 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 21 walks in 77.1 innings. He finished his season with four consecutive scoreless outings after struggling throughout the season. Baltimore is hoping that Irvin can provide useful depth as the bullpen looks to fill a mountain-sized void without the best reliever in baseball.
These may not be flashy, eye-catching moves that the fans are looking for, but they are very important. Each player that signed a deal today contributed significantly last season when the O’s won 101 games and the AL East. O’s fans will wait patiently as the team is still linked to All-Star starter Dylan Cease.
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