Means, Orioles agree to 2-year deal, avoid arbitration
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BALTIMORE -- The Orioles will avoid going to an arbitration hearing with their ace, inking left-hander John Means to a two-year deal on Saturday, the same day top prospect Adley Rutschman was promoted to the big league club.
The deal is worth $5.925 million, a source told MLB.com. Means will be arbitration-eligible in 2024, the season after his deal ends.
For both parties, the deal resolves a lingering question. The sides were scheduled for an arbitration hearing on Thursday that will no longer be necessary. Means had filed for $3.1 million, while the Orioles had countered at $2.7 million.
Means will miss the rest of the 2022 season following Tommy John surgery on April 27, although he's progressing well, and he will likely be out for part of the ‘23 campaign.
Means’ deal also means the Orioles won't have any arbitration hearings this cycle. Trey Mancini came to terms in April on a one-year deal for 2022 with a mutual option for ‘23.