![\"Sep](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4176,h_2349,x_0,y_281\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_orioles\/01jekv9temedx8xjbhph.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Baltimore Orioles agreed to a deal with outfielder Tyler O\u2019Neill on Saturday, likely ending Anthony Santander\u2019s time with the team.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Re-signing outfielder Anthony Santander was probably a bit of a long-shot for the Baltimore Orioles. But Saturday\u2019s move made it even more unlikely the slugging outfielder won\u2019t back in 2025.<\/p>\n
The Orioles agreed to a three-year contract with Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O\u2019Neill.<\/p>\n
His deal is for three years and worth just under $50 million. The Associated Press reported that O\u2019Neill is set to make $16.5 million in each of the next three seasons. But, he can opt out after next season.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill didn\u2019t boast as much power as Santander did last season, but he still hit 31 home runs and drove in 61 runs while batting .241. He\u2019s a bit younger at 29 years old and, with the opt-out, he can test the market next season if he has another big year.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that O\u2019Neill only played 113 games last season, missing time due to a concussion, and that the most game he\u2019s played in a season is the 138 he played in 2021.<\/p>\n
That just happens to be his career season, with a .286 batting average with 34 home runs and 80 RBI.<\/p>\n
Baltimore gets cheap coverage in its lineup as a result. Because O\u2019Neill can play multiple outfield position and even DH, he won\u2019t necessarily stand in the way of the cavalcade of young outfielders the Orioles either already have in the Majors on the ones on the way.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also the first multi-year deal that general manager Mike Elias has handed out to a free agent since he arrived.<\/p>\n
But, more importantly, it leaves the team less room to pursue Santander, especially if Baltimore intends to pursue more starting pitching or even make a big push to keep Corbin Burnes.<\/p>\n
Santander was always going to be a hard get for Baltimore.<\/p>\n
He picked the perfect season to have a career year. In his free-agent season he only batted .235, but he slugged a career-high 44 home runs and 102 RBI. He\u2019s always had pop in his bat, but never quite like that.<\/p>\n
Because of that, he was considered by most insiders to be one of the Top 10 free agents on the market and one of the few that might command a nine-figure deal.<\/p>\n
Baltimore may feel that money is better suited for a starting pitcher or may believe that with Santander that\u2019s his peak and there\u2019s nowhere to go but down.<\/p>\n
Either way, O\u2019Neill\u2019s arrival means Santander will, most likely, wear a new uniform next season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a deal with outfielder Tyler O\u2019Neill on Saturday, likely ending Anthony Santander\u2019s time with the team. Re-signing outfielder Anthony Santander was probably… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16410,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n