BALTIMORE -- The Orioles did not offer Vance Worley a contract for next year, making the right-hander a free agent in advance of Friday's non-tender deadline.
Baltimore offered contracts to its other nine arbitration-eligible players: Brad Brach, Zach Britton, Ryan Flaherty, Kevin Gausman, Caleb Joseph, Manny Machado, T.J. McFarland, Jonathan Schoop, and Chris Tillman.
The moves, coupled with the club claiming outfielder Adam Walker off waivers from Milwaukee earlier in the day, leaves the 40-man roster at 36.
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Worley, who was projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to make more than $3 million next season, went 2-2 with a 3.53 ERA over 35 games (four starts) for the O's last season. A waiver pickup from the Pirates, the righty was very valuable in the swingman role for Baltimore. But the Orioles traded for right-hander Logan Verrett on Wednesday, presumably for the same role, seeming to indicate their plans to non-tender Worley.
The O's will now try to work out deals with their other nine arb-eligibles and avoid arbitration later this offseason. They'll also pay close attention to other clubs' non-tenders on Friday night, as the current free-agent pool grows.