![\"Baltimore](\"https:\/\/www.thebanner.com\/resizer\/v2\/X265L3N6SBFTJGQQU27IYQTLWM.jpg?auth=af05edab7bb079ca4be647d1f3bf7a91cf7077a16c86d0603eb1266059b155fd\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As the Baltimore Orioles continue shaping their roster for the upcoming season, questions from fans remain focused on bullpen depth and contract structure. Two recurring topics stand out: the puzzling absence of left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe from Baltimore\u2019s offseason plans and confusion surrounding how mutual options function in MLB contracts.<\/p>\n
Below, we break down both issues and explain why the answers may not be as straightforward as they appear.<\/p>\n
Since Danny Coulombe is a free agent, why wouldn\u2019t the Orioles be interested in bringing him back to add depth to the bullpen? Most fans were surprised when Baltimore didn\u2019t pursue him last year. He pitched very well for Minnesota, and he\u2019s a lefty.<\/strong> Larry, you\u2019re not alone. This question continues to surface among Orioles fans, and even within the organization\u2019s observer circle. Don Fazio has raised the same point, and it\u2019s one I\u2019ve addressed multiple times over the past year.<\/p>\n Simply put, the Orioles\u2019 decision not to retain Danny Coulombe has been both surprising and disappointing given his performance and fit.<\/p>\n Baltimore declined Coulombe\u2019s $4 million club option for the 2025 season<\/strong>, a move that caught many off guard. At the time, Coulombe had proven himself as a reliable left-handed reliever\u2014something every contending team values, especially in today\u2019s matchup-driven bullpen environment.<\/p>\n After leaving Baltimore, Coulombe posted exceptional numbers with the Minnesota Twins:<\/p>\n 1.16 ERA in 40 appearances<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Zero home runs allowed<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Consistent effectiveness against left-handed hitters<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Strong command and late-inning reliability<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Those numbers alone make a compelling case for why the Orioles could<\/em> use him, particularly given their ongoing bullpen turnover.<\/p>\n However, Coulombe\u2019s season wasn\u2019t flawless. After being traded to Texas later in the year, his performance dipped:<\/p>\n 5.25 ERA in 15 games<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Allowed seven runs total, six of which came in just two outings<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n That context matters. Outside of two rough appearances, Coulombe was largely effective, but front offices tend to weigh end-of-season struggles heavily\u2014especially for relievers nearing their mid-30s.<\/p>\n Despite his success and left-handed profile, there are several reasons Baltimore may remain hesitant:<\/p>\n Age and durability concerns<\/strong> \u2013 Coulombe is entering his mid-30s, and the Orioles have prioritized younger, controllable bullpen arms.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Organizational philosophy<\/strong> \u2013 Baltimore has shown a strong preference for developing in-house relievers rather than paying market rates for veteran bullpen help.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bullpen flexibility<\/strong> \u2013 The team values pitchers with option years and multi-inning potential, something Coulombe does not offer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Cost vs. upside calculation<\/strong> \u2013 Even modest contracts are scrutinized under Baltimore\u2019s payroll strategy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n While Coulombe would undeniably help the Orioles\u2019 bullpen on paper, all signs point to the organization moving in a different direction.<\/p>\n Bottom line: He\u2019d be an excellent addition\u2014but don\u2019t expect a reunion in 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n Could you explain how a mutual option works? For example, if Tyler O\u2019Neill had a mutual option and wanted to exercise it, but the Orioles didn\u2019t, what would happen?<\/strong> Will, this is a great question\u2014and one that confuses many fans because \u201cmutual options\u201d sound far more significant than they usually are.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with the real-world example you\u2019re likely referencing: Zach Eflin\u2019s $25 million mutual option for the 2027 season.<\/strong><\/p>\n A mutual option<\/strong> can only be exercised if both the player and the team agree<\/strong> to it. If either side<\/em> declines, the option is void.<\/p>\n In practice, this means:<\/p>\n If the player wants it but the team doesn\u2019t \u2192 option is declined<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n If the team wants it but the player doesn\u2019t \u2192 option is declined<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Both must say yes \u2192 option is exercised<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Because both sides must agree, mutual options are rarely exercised<\/strong>. In most cases, they function more like accounting tools or placeholders than realistic contract extensions.<\/p>\n If a player outperforms the contract value, they usually decline and seek a better deal on the open market.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n If a player underperforms, the team typically declines to avoid overpaying.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n When both sides are satisfied, extensions are usually negotiated before<\/em> the option year.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n That\u2019s why many executives view mutual options as symbolic rather than practical.<\/p>\n Tyler O\u2019Neill\u2019s contract with the Orioles did not include a mutual option<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Instead, O\u2019Neill signed a three-year deal with a player opt-out after the first season<\/strong>. He chose not<\/strong> to exercise that opt-out, meaning the Orioles remain responsible for the final two guaranteed years of his contract.<\/p>\n A player opt-out is very different from a mutual option:<\/p>\n Opt-out<\/strong>: Player decides<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Team option<\/strong>: Team decides<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mutual option<\/strong>: Both must agree<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Both of these topics highlight the Orioles\u2019 broader roster-building philosophy:<\/p>\n They are cautious with veteran relievers, even productive ones like Danny Coulombe.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n They use contract structures (like mutual options) to maintain flexibility rather than make long-term commitments.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n While some of these decisions frustrate fans, they align with Baltimore\u2019s emphasis on cost control, internal development, and long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n As the season approaches, questions like these will continue\u2014and so will debates about whether the Orioles are doing just enough<\/em> to contend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Orioles Mailbag: Why Baltimore Isn\u2019t Reuniting with Danny Coulombe and How Mutual Options Really Work As the Baltimore Orioles continue shaping their roster for the upcoming season,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":138028,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u2014 Larry Bickford, Stewartstown, PA<\/em><\/p>\nAnswer:<\/h3>\n
Coulombe\u2019s 2025 Performance Breakdown<\/h4>\n
\n
\n
Why the Orioles Are Still Unlikely to Bring Him Back<\/h4>\n
![\"Danny](\"https:\/\/www.thebanner.com\/resizer\/v2\/BG37FTGPVVEWNAOJKKEJNKRV2U.jpg?auth=8ff3bbb9752833e63ac60af946f2c425cb90bcc302a6e03f402038803ea22c8b&quality=85&width=1024&smart=true\")
<\/p>\n\n
\nQuestion:<\/h2>\n
\u2014 Will Statter<\/em><\/p>\nAnswer:<\/h3>\n
How Mutual Options Actually Work<\/h4>\n
\n
Why Mutual Options Almost Never Happen<\/h4>\n
![\"Orioles](\"https:\/\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/baltimorebanner\/H7FNX75YURFC5PAIZGUCZRNVQQ.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Clearing Up the Tyler O\u2019Neill Confusion<\/h4>\n
\n
\nFinal Thoughts<\/h2>\n
\n