Orioles Agree To Terms With Three Arbitration Players
The contract details of three players the Baltimore Orioles signed on Friday have been reported.
Infielder Jorge Mateo — an Oriole some believed might go non-tendered at Friday’s deadline — walked away with the most money, as MLB.com reported that he signed a $2.7 million deal for 2024.
He’s best known for his glove and he was once a top prospect in the New York Yankees system before he was traded to Oakland in 2017.
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He’s never been a consistent hitter. He finished 2023 slashing .217/.267/.340 with seven home runs. Outside of his 2021 season, he’s never had a batting average better than .247 and has never had an OPS above .670.
Mateo, who plays shortstop, is in the way of the organization’s No. 1 prospect, Jackson Holliday, who is the No. 1 prospect in baseball.
The New York Post reported two other Orioles contracts signed on Friday.
Outfielder Sam Hilliard signed a deal worth a reported $800,000. Hilliard broke ino the Majors in 2019 with Colorado and spent the 2023 season with Atlanta. For his career, he has slashed .215/.294/.424/.718 with 32 home runs and 77 RBI.
The Orioles claimed Hilliard off waivers from Atlanta on Nov. 1.
Pitcher Keegan Akin signed a one-year deal worth $825,000 with incentives, but the incentives were not disclosed.
Akin has made 101 appearances, including 25 starts, for the Orioles since he joined the Majors in 2020. He is 8-17 with a 5.18 ERA.
The Orioles tendered offers to the remaining 13 arbitration-eligible players, along
