The Orioles have picked up their $2.2M membership possibility on the providers of left-hander Cionel Perez for the 2025 season, based on Francys Romero. Baltimore would’ve nonetheless had Perez underneath staff management for 2025 through 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 Publish. Each will return to the membership in 2025.
Whether or not or not the Orioles would choose up Perez’s possibility seemed to be an in depth name on condition that MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected a $2.1M wage for the left-hander in his penultimate journey by way of arbitration. That is available in barely decrease than the determine Perez will now earn in 2025. It’s attainable Baltimore’s personal inner view of Perez’s seemingly arbitration wage got here in a contact increased than MLBTR’s, though the Orioles’ choice 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 choice to be made concerning the choice would’ve registered as one thing of a shock headed into the 2024 season. Getting into this yr, Perez had been among the many membership’s absolute best 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 unbelievable ERA was considerably belied by increased 3.30 FIP because of 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 just 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 equivalent to his common over the prior two seasons. In fact, it’s price 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 glorious at limiting onerous contact all through his profession, it’s price noting that his homerless season got here despite a virtually doubled barrel fee relative to 2023.
Total, Perez appears more likely to stay with the Orioles as a stable lefty aid possibility, although maybe not one they’ll be involved in providing excessive leverage duties to till and except he can convey 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 beneficial as he joins Keegan Akin and Gregory Soto as lefty choices in 2025.
Turning to O’Hearn, the choice to choose his possibility up doesn’t register as a lot of a shock given his glorious 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 putting out at a 22.3% clip and strolling simply 4.1% of the time in 2023, this yr O’Hearn took free passes at a wonderful 9.3% clip whereas putting out simply 14% of the time. A small step again within the energy division meant his wRC+ was largely unchanged from the yr 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 yr. Whereas Anthony Santander’s seemingly departure in free company will open up some enjoying time within the nook/DH combine, the Orioles have already at occasions struggled to juggle enjoying time for O’Hearn and fellow first baseman Ryan Mountcastle when each are wholesome in earlier seasons. Waiting for 2025, they’ll be trying to find methods to incorporate Coby Mayo and Heston Kjerstad within the lineup extra often, and both participant may take up the lion’s share of enjoying time at DH with Mayo specifically even standing as a attainable inclusion within the membership’s first base combine as properly. A commerce of Mountcastle, one of many prospects, and even O’Hearn himself may assist to clear up the golf equipment log jam on the place, and it will hardly be a shock if the membership determined to take action to be able to improve a rotation dealing with 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.
