O's non-tender Webb, settle with Rivera

BALTIMORE -- Another fairly surprising bullpen decision has been made by the Orioles.

On Friday, Baltimore non-tendered right-hander Jacob Webb, who spent the past two seasons with the O’s. The 31-year-old became a free agent a little more than two weeks after the Orioles declined the $4 million 2025 team option for lefty Danny Coulombe, another key part of the ’pen over the past two years.

Webb was the only one of Baltimore’s 13 arbitration-eligible players who was not tendered a contract prior to Friday’s 8 p.m. ET deadline. Infielder Emmanuel Rivera already settled to avoid arbitration and will make $1 million next season, a source told MLB.com.

The following 11 arb-eligible players were tendered contracts and can continue to negotiate salaries until Jan. 9: LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Kyle Bradish, RHP Dean Kremer, INF/OF Jorge Mateo, 1B Ryan Mountcastle, CF Cedric Mullins, LHP Trevor Rogers, C Adley Rutschman, LHP Gregory Soto, INF Ramón Urías and RHP Tyler Wells.

If any of those players do not agree to terms prior to the Jan. 9 deadline, then they will exchange formal salary proposals with the O’s and schedule an arbitration hearing, which would then determine their salaries for 2025, should the sides not come to terms before then.

On Aug. 7, 2023, the Orioles claimed Webb off waivers from the Angels. The righty went on to post a 3.27 ERA over 25 appearances while helping Baltimore win the American League East title and finish 101-61 that season.

Webb made the Opening Day bullpen in 2024, posting a 3.02 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 56 2/3 innings over 60 outings this year. Now, he’ll be hitting free agency, leaving the O’s with another hole to fill in their relief corps.

Last offseason, the Orioles went to arbitration with Webb, who won his case and made $1 million during the 2024 season. MLB Trade Rumors was projecting Webb’s salary to increase to $1.7 million in arb this year.

Baltimore could look to bolster its relief corps via either the free-agent or trade market to help offset the losses of Webb and Coulombe (assuming neither re-signs with the O’s). However, the team already has the makings of a solid bullpen with All-Star closer Félix Bautista, setup men Yennier Cano and Seranthony Domínguez and other depth pieces.

One area of the Orioles’ roster that seemingly doesn’t need additions is the infield mix. With Mateo, Mountcastle, Rivera and Urías all getting tendered contracts, they’re set to return to a group that also features Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Ryan O’Hearn, Jordan Westburg, Livan Soto and Coby Mayo.

Rivera, who was claimed off waivers from the Marlins on Aug. 21, fared well down the stretch for the O’s. The 28-year-old slashed .313/.370/.578 with three doubles, one triple, four home runs and 14 RBIs in 27 games, earning a spot on the roster for the American League Wild Card Series vs. the Royals.