In a surprising move, the Orioles declined the 2025 option on left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe on Monday while picking up the 2025 options on right-hander Seranthony Domínguez, first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn and left-hander Cionel Pérez.
Coulombe, who missed more than three months after surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow, was set to make $4 million with a possible $925,000 in appearance bonuses.
In 2024, Coulombe was 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA and one save and didn’t allow any of his 13 inherited runners to score.
Domínguez, who was acquired from Philadelphia on July 26th in exchange for outfielder Austin Hays, will make $8 million. Domínguez was 0-2 with a 3.97 ERA and 10 saves in 11 chances with the Orioles. Six of the 10 runs Domínguez allowed came on home runs. Two came in a three-game series with the New York Mets in late August at Citi Field.
O’Hearn, who will make $8 million, played a career-high 142 games and hit a career high 15 home runs. He hit .264 with a .761 OPS and 59 RBIs. O’Hearn struck out in 14 percent of his at-bats, a career low.
Pérez’s option was for $2.2 million. He was 2-0 with a 4.53 ERA and two saves. He did not allow a home run in 2024. Pérez also has $850,000 in bonuses for finishing games and innings pitched.
With Pérez’s option picked up, the Orioles have 13 players eligible for arbitration.
The Orioles also reinstated closer Félix Bautista, right-handed starters Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells and infielder Jorge Mateo from the 60-day injured list.
Notes: Reliever Matt Bowman has declared for free agency after refusing an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Bowman was 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA in 15 games. The Orioles claimed catcher René Pinto off waivers from Tampa Bay and right-handed pitcher Thaddeus Ward off waivers from Washington.
Pinto hit .214 with two home runs and six RBIs in 19 games with the Rays in 2024. He hit .231 in 82 games with Tampa Bay in the last three seasons.
Ward had a 6.37 ERA in 26 games with the Nationals in 2023. He was 8-6 with a 5.64 ERA in 28 starts for Triple-A Rochester this season.
The Orioles have 36 players on their 40-man roster.
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