The Orioles said they have avoided arbitration with their All-Star second baseman Jonathan Schoop for 2018, agreeing to a one-year deal for an undisclosed amount.
According to a report from MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal on Tuesday, Schoop's contract is for $8.5 million. The $8.5 million figure falls between the competing figures Schoop and the team had filed in advance of a potential hearing, but is slightly closer to Schoop's number. Schoop had filed for $9 million, and the Orioles had filed at $7.5 million.
Schoop's hearing had been set for later this week. He was recently absent from Orioles FanFest largely because of his unresolved arbitration situation.
Schoop had a career year for Baltimore in 2017, his fifth Major League season. The 26-year-old hit .293/.338/.503 with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs in 160 games. He finished 12th in American League MVP voting.
Schoop earned $3.475 million last season. He has one more year of arbitration eligibility before he is scheduled to become a free agent in 2020.