O's non-tender Webb, settle with Rivera
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BALTIMORE -- Another fairly surprising bullpen decision has been made by the Orioles.
On Friday, Baltimore non-tendered right-hander Jacob Webb, who spent the past two seasons with the O¡¯s. The 31-year-old became a free agent a little more than two weeks after the Orioles declined the $4 million 2025 team option for lefty Danny Coulombe, another key part of the ¡¯pen over the past two years.
Webb was the only one of Baltimore¡¯s 13 arbitration-eligible players who was not tendered a contract prior to Friday¡¯s 8 p.m. ET deadline. Infielder Emmanuel Rivera already settled to avoid arbitration and will make $1 million next season, a source told MLB.com.
The following 11 arb-eligible players were tendered contracts and can continue to negotiate salaries until Jan. 9: LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Kyle Bradish, RHP Dean Kremer, INF/OF Jorge Mateo, 1B Ryan Mountcastle, CF Cedric Mullins, LHP Trevor Rogers, C Adley Rutschman, LHP Gregory Soto, INF Ram¨®n Ur¨ªas and RHP Tyler Wells.
If any of those players do not agree to terms prior to the Jan. 9 deadline, then they will exchange formal salary proposals with the O¡¯s and schedule an arbitration hearing, which would then determine their salaries for 2025, should the sides not come to terms before then.
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On Aug. 7, 2023, the Orioles claimed Webb off waivers from the Angels. The righty went on to post a 3.27 ERA over 25 appearances while helping Baltimore win the American League East title and finish 101-61 that season.
Webb made the Opening Day bullpen in 2024, posting a 3.02 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 56 2/3 innings over 60 outings this year. Now, he¡¯ll be hitting free agency, leaving the O¡¯s with another hole to fill in their relief corps.
Last offseason, the Orioles went to arbitration with Webb, who won his case and made $1 million during the 2024 season. MLB Trade Rumors was projecting Webb¡¯s salary to increase to $1.7 million in arb this year.
Baltimore could look to bolster its relief corps via either the free-agent or trade market to help offset the losses of Webb and Coulombe (assuming neither re-signs with the O¡¯s). However, the team already has the makings of a solid bullpen with All-Star closer F¨¦lix Bautista, setup men Yennier Cano and Seranthony Dom¨ªnguez and other depth pieces.
One area of the Orioles¡¯ roster that seemingly doesn¡¯t need additions is the infield mix. With Mateo, Mountcastle, Rivera and Ur¨ªas all getting tendered contracts, they¡¯re set to return to a group that also features Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Ryan O¡¯Hearn, Jordan Westburg, Livan Soto and Coby Mayo.
Rivera, who was claimed off waivers from the Marlins on Aug. 21, fared well down the stretch for the O¡¯s. The 28-year-old slashed .313/.370/.578 with three doubles, one triple, four home runs and 14 RBIs in 27 games, earning a spot on the roster for the American League Wild Card Series vs. the Royals.