Orioles agree with 3 arbitration-eligible OFs

The Orioles avoided arbitration with five of their six eligible players ahead of Friday’s deadline to exchange salary figures, leading to significant pay raises for multiple key members of their roster in 2023.

Baltimore worked out deals with outfielders Anthony Santander, Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays, shortstop Jorge Mateo and right-hander Dillon Tate. The only arbitration-eligible player who didn’t come to terms was righty Austin Voth, who exchanged salary figures with the club and could go to a hearing in February to decide his salary for the 2023 season. Voth filed at $2 million and the Orioles filed at $1.7 million, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Santander agreed to the largest deal of the five who did so, as the 28-year-old will earn $7.4 million in 2023, a source told Feinsand. He made $3.15 million last year, when he set career highs in homers (33), RBIs (89), hits (138), runs (78) and games played (152).

This was the third time in Santander’s six-year big league career that he was arbitration-eligible. He previously lost an arbitration hearing in 2021, when he made $2.1 million. Meanwhile, Mullins, Hays, Mateo and Tate were all arbitration-eligible for the first time.

Mullins will earn $4.1 million in 2023, a source told Feinsand. An All-Star in ‘21, the 28-year-old Mullins has been a fixture in center field for the Orioles over the past two seasons. Last year (when he made $716,500), he slashed .258/.318/.403 with 16 homers and 32 doubles in 156 games.

After another productive year in 2022, Hays is set to earn $3.2 million in ‘23, a source told Feinsand. The 27-year-old slashed .250/.306/.413 with 16 homers and 35 doubles in a career-high 145 games last season, when he made $713,000. He also hit for the 11th cycle in franchise history on June 22.

Mateo’s salary will go from $709,500 in ‘22 to $2 million in ‘23, a source told Feinsand. The 27-year-old became the Orioles’ starting shortstop last season, when he set career highs in homers (13), RBIs (50), hits (109), runs (63), stolen bases (an American League-high 35) and games played (150). He also won a Fielding Bible Award at the position for his exceptional defense.

Tate, who is one of the most reliable arms in the back end of Baltimore’s bullpen, will make $1.5 million in 2023, a source told MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. The 28-year-old Tate earned $711,500 last season, when he recorded a 3.05 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP while setting career highs in appearances (67) and innings pitched (73 2/3).

Although teams can still settle with arbitration-eligible players after exchanging salary figures, the Orioles have typically opted not to do so during Mike Elias’ time as general manager (since November 2018). So there’s a good chance Voth will go to a hearing with the club.

Voth, 30, was tendered a contract for the 2023 season after impressing during his time with the O’s in ‘22. He struggled early in the year, posting a 10.13 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP in 19 relief appearances for Washington, which designated him for assignment on May 31. After being claimed off waivers by Baltimore on June 7, he pitched to a 3.04 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP over 22 games (17 starts).