The Orioles have picked up their $2.2M membership possibility on the providers of left-hander Cionel Perez for the 2025 season, according to Francys Romero. Baltimore would’ve nonetheless had Perez beneath crew management for 2025 by way of arbitration even when the choice had been declined. They’ve additionally picked up their $8M possibility on the providers of first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, as first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Each will return to the membership in 2025.
Whether or not or not the Orioles would choose up Perez’s possibility gave the impression to be a detailed name provided that MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected a $2.1M wage for the left-hander in his penultimate journey by means of arbitration. That is available in barely decrease than the determine Perez will now earn in 2025. It’s potential Baltimore’s personal inner view of Perez’s possible arbitration wage got here in a contact increased than MLBTR’s, though the Orioles’ determination could also be so simple as not wanting to say no the choice and threat an arbitration listening to with the southpaw over simply $100K.
That there was any kind of determination to be made concerning the choice would’ve registered as one thing of a shock headed into the 2024 season. Getting into this 12 months, Perez had been among the many membership’s best possible relievers over his two years in Baltimore. From 2022 to 2023, Perez dominated to the tune of a 2.43 ERA in 111 innings of labor. That improbable ERA was considerably belied by increased 3.30 FIP due to Perez’s lackluster strikeout (20.6%) and stroll (10%) charges over the previous two years, however the lefty made up for that by producing grounders at a wonderful 56.2% fee.
Sadly, Perez took a significant step backwards in 2024 when it got here to run prevention as his ERA ballooned to 4.53. With that being mentioned, his peripherals remained remarkably much like his earlier profitable seasons with the Orioles. His 11.8% stroll fee was elevated and his 19.3% strikeout fee was only a tick decrease than these earlier figures, however the lefty maintained a robust 55.8% groundball fee and wound up with a 3.30 FIP that was similar to his common over the prior two seasons. After all, it’s value noting that Perez’s FIP is considerably deflated by the truth that Perez managed to surrender zero dwelling runs in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign. Whereas the lefty has usually been wonderful at limiting arduous contact all through his profession, it’s value noting that his homerless season got here despite an almost doubled barrel fee relative to 2023.
Total, Perez appears more likely to stay with the Orioles as a strong lefty reduction possibility, although maybe not one they’ll be keen on providing excessive leverage duties to till and until he can carry his strikeout and stroll ratios nearer to the 23.5% and 9% figures he flashed throughout his dominant 2022 marketing campaign. The Orioles notably declined their membership possibility on fellow lefty Danny Coulombe on Monday, making Perez all of the extra worthwhile as he joins Keegan Akin and Gregory Soto as lefty choices in 2025.
Turning to O’Hearn, the choice to select his possibility up doesn’t register as a lot of a shock given his wonderful efficiency since first donning an Orioles uniform. The 31-year-old simply wrapped up his second season with Baltimore and carries an general slash line of .275/.329/.450 (119 wRC+), although even that slash line could also be promoting his development with the membership quick as he massively improved his plate self-discipline in 2024. After hanging out at a 22.3% clip and strolling simply 4.1% of the time in 2023, this 12 months O’Hearn took free passes at a wonderful 9.3% clip whereas hanging out simply 14% of the time. A small step again within the energy division meant his wRC+ was largely unchanged from the 12 months prior, however underlying metrics similar to xwOBA considered O’Hearn’s work in 2024 as a considerable enchancment over his first season with the membership.
As spectacular as O’Hearn’s evolution in Baltimore has been, there do stay questions on his match on the membership’s roster coming into subsequent 12 months. Whereas Anthony Santander’s possible departure in free company will open up some taking part in time within the nook/DH combine, the Orioles have already at instances struggled to juggle taking part in time for O’Hearn and fellow first baseman Ryan Mountcastle when each are wholesome in earlier seasons. Looking forward to 2025, they’ll be trying to find methods to incorporate Coby Mayo and Heston Kjerstad within the lineup extra frequently, and both participant might take up the lion’s share of taking part in time at DH with Mayo particularly even standing as a potential inclusion within the membership’s first base combine as properly. A commerce of Mountcastle, one of many prospects, and even O’Hearn himself might assist to clear up the golf equipment log jam on the place, and it could hardly be a shock if the membership determined to take action in an effort to improve a rotation going through loads of questions headed into 2025 following the departure of Corbin Burnes and elbow surgical procedure that can sideline Kyle Bradish for the beginning of subsequent season.
