O's, new 2B Sánchez agree to deal (source)

The Orioles continued the process of avoiding arbitration with their eligible players on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with second baseman Yolmer Sánchez on a one-year, $1 million deal, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The deal, which has not been confirmed by the club, leaves the O’s with five unsigned arbritration-eligible players ahead of Wednesday’s 8 p.m. ET non-tender deadline. At least three are potential non-tender candidates, to varying degrees: infielder Hanser Alberto, reliever Shawn Armstrong and utility man Pat Valaika. All are arbitration-eligible for the first time.

Sánchez, 28, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Oct. 30 after splitting a truncated 2020 season with the Giants and White Sox. The switch-hitting second baseman spent the previous six seasons with the White Sox, winning a Gold Glove Award in '19.

From 2014-20 with Chicago, Sánchez hit .245/.300/.360 with 32 home runs and 81 OPS+ across 657 total games. He profiles as depth at both second and third base for the Orioles, especially if they part ways with Alberto at Wednesday’s deadline. A former waiver claim himself, Alberto could command a raise of $2 million to $4 million through arbitration as a first-time-eligible player.