As today is the deadline for teams and players to come to terms with arbitration-eligible players or risk going to trial, we’re starting to see some deals come through the pipeline.

In the Orioles’ case, most of these contracts are roughly what we’ve been expecting.

To this point, none of the O’s arb-eligible players have been inked to multi-year deals.

Everything to this point has been a one-year deal roughly in the price range that had been predicted earlier this winter.

Arguably the most important player in these discussions, Adley Rutschman was able to find common ground with the Orioles. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal worth $5.5 million, as first reported by MLB’s Mark Feinsand.

Rutschman is as important as anyone else on the 2025 roster. His collapse at the plate in the second half of 2024 was a big reason why the Orioles fell short of the AL East title last year.

Most everyone, especially Orioles fans, are expecting a quick turnaround, as there seems to be little evidence that his struggles last year will persist into next spring. However, if Rutschman can’t get it figured out at the plate, the Orioles are in for a rough stretch ahead.

Orioles come to terms with handful of arbitration-eligible players

In addition to Rutschman, the O’s have finalized deals with each of their arb-eligible players in turn. Cedric Mullins was signed to a deal worth $8.725 million. Despite his contributions to this Orioles’ squad over the past seven years, there’s a chance that 2025 is the last year Mullins spends in Baltimore.

It feels unlikely that the Orioles will pursue a contract extension with him this summer, and he’s set to reach free agency next winter.

O’s first baseman Ryan Mountcastle avoided arbitration and signed a one-year deal worth $6.787 million. It’s just a touch higher than the $6.6 million that MLB Trade Rumors projected he’d get.

While Mountcastle is still the subject of trade speculation among the Orioles fanbase, the improved left field wall would, in theory, help him regain some of the magic he’s lost over the past couple years.

Lefty Trevor Rogers signed a $2.6 million deal for 2025. He’s among those looking to prove themselves worthy of a rotation spot in Baltimore next year. His struggles in 2024 are well documented but he does have some potential left in the tank. We’ll have to wait and see if he’s able to unlock it next year.

Dean Kremer seems like the most likely candidate to earn a rotation spot outside of the four obvious guys.

Kremer has pitched to a 4.28 ERA during his career in Baltimore and has made 77 starts over the past three years. While he seems to have limited upside, Kremer has been one of the more stable arms in the rotation recently.

Though he’s still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and will miss at least half of 2025, Kyle Bradish was inked to a one-year, $2.35 million deal for next year.

The Orioles need Bradish back healthy, as soon as possible. The additions of Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton should hopefully help bridge the gap between the start of next year and when Bradish can return to ace form.

The Orioles will also be forking out $5.35 million to retain lefty Gregory Soto. Though he struggled in a few appearances early on, Soto was solid down the stretch for the O’s.

He’s never been a world beater on the mound, having posted an ERA below 4.00 just twice in his career, most recently in 2022. But he did see an improved strikeout rate in 2024, which the Orioles will hopefully be able to replicate in 2025.

The Orioles were unable to come to terms with infielder Jorge Mateo. The veteran was projected to get $3.2 million this winter. It’s possible that his injuries in 2024 led the Orioles to feel that price was too high. It’s unclear at this time what either the Orioles or Mateo offered. The two sides will head to arbitration to determine Mateo’s 2025 salary later this winter.

It was announced later on Thursday afternoon that the Orioles had come to terms with both Ramón Urías and Keegan Akin to avoid arbitration.

Urías will earn $3.15 million next year, while Akin will receive $1.475 million. Akin is shaping up to be a vital piece of the O’s bullpen, while Urías is slated to man the bench in Baltimore.

As of now, we’re still awaiting word on the status of Tyler Wells.