Orioles reach deals with pitchers Johnson, Hammel, O'Day
The Baltimore Orioles reached one-year contracts with All-Star closer Jim Johnson and pitcher Jason Hammel after going to arbitration, according to multiple reports on Sunday.
Also, the team is close to a two-year, $5.8 million deal with right-hander Darren O'Day to avoid arbitration.
Johnson will make $6.5 million and Hammel will get $6.75 million after Friday's arbitration hearings.
Johnson can earn an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses. He saved a club-record 51 games last year, which also led the major leagues. He was 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in winning the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year award. He asked for $7.1 million and the team offered $5.7 million. He made $2,775,000 last year.
Hammel can also make $300,000 in performance bonuses based on games started and innings pitched. Hammel went 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 20 starts in 2012. He asked for $8.25 million and the Orioles offered $5.7 million. He made $4.75 million last season.
O'Day's contract would pay him $2.2 million this year and $3.2 million in 2014. The team also has a $4.25 million option for 2015 with a $400,000 buyout as part of the deal.
O'Day was 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 69 relief appearances. In exchanging arbitration figures, O'Day asked for $3.2 million and the team offered $1.8 million.
