O's, new 2B Sánchez agree to deal (source)

December 2nd, 2020

The Orioles continued the process of avoiding arbitration with their eligible players on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with second baseman on a one-year, $1 million deal, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The deal, which has not been confirmed by the club, leaves the O’s with five unsigned arbritration-eligible players ahead of Wednesday’s 8 p.m. ET non-tender deadline. At least three are potential non-tender candidates, to varying degrees: infielder , reliever and utility man . All are arbitration-eligible for the first time.

Sánchez, 28, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Oct. 30 after splitting a truncated 2020 season with the Giants and White Sox. The switch-hitting second baseman spent the previous six seasons with the White Sox, winning a Gold Glove Award in '19.

From 2014-20 with Chicago, Sánchez hit .245/.300/.360 with 32 home runs and 81 OPS+ across 657 total games. He profiles as depth at both second and third base for the Orioles, especially if they part ways with Alberto at Wednesday’s deadline. A former waiver claim himself, Alberto could command a raise of $2 million to $4 million through arbitration as a first-time-eligible player.