Source: Orioles, RHP Yovani Gallardo agree to 3-year, $35M contract
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The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a three-year, $35 million deal with free-agent right-hander Yovani Gallardo, a source confirmed to FOX Senior MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal on Saturday. Jon Heyman first reported the agreement.
Because the Texas Rangers made Gallardo a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer for the 2016 season -- an offer Gallardo rejected -- the Orioles will have to send their first-round pick (14th overall) to the Rangers as compensation for signing him.
Gallardo, 29, went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA in 33 starts for Texas last season. He struck out 121 batters in 184 1/3 innings. In his nine-season major-league career, he is 102-75 with a 3.66 ERA and an 8.2 K/9 ratio.
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Gallardo will fill a rotation void left by the departure of free-agent left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, who signed with the Miami Marlins. There was a definite need for rotation help after Baltimore's starters finished 25th in the majors with a 4.53 ERA last season.
In addition to Gallardo, the Orioles also retained three of their key free agents this offseason: first baseman Chris Davis, catcher Matt Wieters and reliever Darren O'Day. Wieters accepted his qualifying offer for the 2016 season, while Davis signed a seven-year, $161 million deal and O'Day landed a four-year, $31 million deal.
Meanwhile, center fielder Dexter Fowler and shortstop Ian Desmond -- both of whom also have been hurt by the compensation associated with the qualifying offers -- remain unsigned with pitchers and catchers already reporting to spring training.
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And as Rosenthal first reported last week, the Orioles also might consider Fowler.
Fowler would address Baltimore's outfield need and also provide a leadoff candidate. In 156 games for the Cubs last season, he hit .250/.346/.411 with 17 homers, 46 RBI, eight triples and 20 stolen bases.