The Orioles have avoided an arbitration hearing with Trey Mancini, as the team announced that the two sides have agreed to a contract for the 2022 season. The deal also contains a mutual option for the 2023 campaign. The Athletic’s Dan Connelly (via Twitter) reports that Mancini will earn $7.5MM in 2022, and the mutual option is worth $10MM with a $250K buyout. Mancini is represented by Frontline.
Mancini and the O’s couldn’t reach common ground on a deal prior to the deadline for exchanging arbitration figures, and there was a $625K gap between the two numbers — the Orioles offering $7.375MM and Mancini seeking $8MM. With the buyout money factored in, Mancini is guaranteed $7.75MM in 2022, bringing his total earnings closer to his desired figure. MLBTR’s Matt Swartz projected Mancini for a $7.9MM salary, a nice bump up from the $4.75MM salaries Mancini received in his first two arb-eligible seasons.
Of course, Mancini didn’t receive a raise last winter since he didn’t play in 2020, taking the year off to battle colon cancer. Receiving a clean bill of health heading into last season, Mancini won AL Comeback Player Of The Year honors after hitting .255/.326/.432 with 21 home runs over 616 plate appearances in his return to action.
2022 is Mancini’s third and final season of arbitration eligibility, and he is schedule to hit free agency next winter. While the inclusion of the mutual option technically represents something beyond just a flat one-year deal, mutual options are rarely exercised by both parties. In short, the option doesn’t make it any more or less likely that Mancini will still be an Oriole at this time next year, and it remains possible that the rebuilding O’s could still trade Mancini to a contender at some point prior to the trade deadline.
John Means is the only remaining member of Baltimore’s arbitration class that has yet to agree to terms on his 2022 contract. Means submitted a $3.1MM figure while the Orioles submitted a $2.7MM figure, and barring an agreement, the two sides are set to eventually meet in an arbitration hearing.
Also been playing him all over lately. Seems all like a setup to get him traded. Just waiting for a team with a little desperation
Man wish the Rangers would trade for him and slot him into that lineup. He would be a great fit
Guy was born to play in Fenway. Corner OF semi-platoon with the LH hitters, 1B when HOF-er Dalback slumps, DH when JD has to get his nails done. Nice Italian American kid, with a great story and a personality; Boston media will love him. . Given his pending Free Agent status, a couple of middle-range prospects should get it done.
How can’t you like or have deep respect for this man? If the Orioles can’t see what a great inspiration he is, then I hope some team will see what a great addition he would make.
If Mancini has a .285-.290 year on pace for 25-30 HRs. A contender will pay with better prospects than that.
Anybody would pay that price for him. At this point in the season, no a couple medium prospects wouldn’t do it.
He is worth more as a mentor to baby birds. Definitely going to need more then a couple midrange prospects
Why would they need to push 250k into next year? It’s not like they’re payroll is a problem.
It’s part of the way Mutual Options are structured. There has to be a penalty to the side that chooses not to pick up the option.
Not quite. The mutual option fee is always paid by the team, even if the player declines the option. Mancini will get the 250k regardless of whether he, or the team, declines.
I think (maybe) that the $250K buyout is to lower the luxury tax hit for the 2022 season. This becomes a $7.75M deal over two years (that’s the total committed amount) and so it counts as just under $4M for luxury tax calculations.
Not that the Orioles are close to the limit. So I dunno (maybe). There, that had to be helpful.
Creative way to find middle ground between the arbitration figures. I would have liked to see the option vest into a player option with 625 PA’s but doubt the O’s were willing to take that gamble.
The o’s front office will buy the buyout to save more money since they don’t want to commit money to player when they have almost 3 1st baseman options on their roster.
Yeah, Trey is not a great long-term fit with Mounty on the roster, and the DH spot often being used to cycle through guys. We have 2 great outfielders, and another okay one in Santander, and Cowser looks like the real deal, and Mayo will probably end up in the outfield eventually.
If I’m the Braves, I want him and Means somehow, someway. I full well know they won’t trade either, but gosh, we need them. Lol. I’d trade Drew Waters, Spencer Strider, Tucker Davidson for them. Not sure that’s enough or the right deal. Maybe throw in a major leaguer just to offset some salary but that would at least get the conversation started. Think the sad part is our minors are so down that I’m not sure we could offer a better package than that lol …