O's avoid arbitration with Machado, 4 others

January 12th, 2018

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles avoided arbitration with several high-profile players on Friday, including All-Star infielder Manny Machado.
Machado agreed to a one-year, $16 million contract for next season -- his final before hitting free agency -- a source told MLB.com. The club also avoided arbitration with relievers Zach Britton and , infielder and catcher
Machado and the O's were initially expected to be unable to agree to terms, but the two sides exchanged numbers after the 1 p.m. ET deadline and were able to get a deal done, sources told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
Machado was one of the highest-profile arbitration-eligible players this offseason and his name has been swirling in trade rumors all winter. He is expected to command a record-breaking contract when he reaches free agency and gets a nice raise from the $11.5 million he earned last season.
Britton, who was once thought to be potentially released due to an Achilles injury, settled for $12 million in his final year before free agency. Brach, who is also in his final year of arbitration, settled for $5.165 million.
Britton, who is recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles, still gets a slight raise from the $11.4 million he earned in 2017. Last season, the lefty was limited to 37 1/3 frames due to injury and is expected to miss most of the first half of the 2018 season. Brach earned $3.05 million last year.
Just and remain unsigned. Traditionally if the Orioles can't reach an agreement by the deadline, they end up going to a hearing with the player. If they cannot settle, they will go to a hearing, in which a panel of arbitrators decides between the player and team's competing salary figures.