Baltimore signed 1B/OF-L Jay Gibbons to a one-year, $2.6M contract yesterday. He'll reportedly receive a $25,000 bonus if he makes the All-Star team. The outfielder was arbitration-eligible for the first time this off-season. On January 20th, as part of the arbitration process, Gibbons' formally requested a salary of $2.8M while the Orioles offered $2.4M. Had the two sides not reached an agreement a salary arbitration hearing would have taken place on February 19th.

Gibbons should return to right field in 2004 after a solid 2003. The 26-year-old possesses substantial power, which I expect to continue increasing over the next few seasons. However, I am concerned that he exercised less patience at the plate as the season progressed, weakening an area of his skill set that could have used improvement. If his plate discipline improves, he should emerge as a stud, while continued decline could begin to affect his power numbers.

LHP B.J. Ryan, who was in his second off-season of arbitration-eligibility, agreed to a one-year, $1.275M contract on Wednesday. Although he continues to struggle with his walk rate, he's maintained an excellent strikeout rate and conquered his home run problems with the improvement in his G-F ratio. Ryan developed a sizeable platoon split in 2003, when he experienced a large improvement in his performance against left-handed batters while his effectiveness against right-handed batters remained similar to his past performances. However, since the split resulted from an improvement rather than a decline, I don't think the Orioles need turn the 28-year-old into a specialist. I don't expect a substantial decline in his skills in 2004, and I wouldn't be overly surprised if he took another step forward with his performance against right-handed batters making progress towards matching his success against southpaws.

In late January, Baltimore signed UT-R Melvin Mora to a three-year, $10.5M contract, which will eat up two-seasons of arbitration and his first year of free agency eligibility. He'll receive $2M in 2004, $3.5M in 2005, and $4M in 2006 in addition to a $1M signing bonus. The deal also reportedly includes $350,000 in bonuses of an undisclosed nature each season. On January 20th, Mora had formally requested $3.3M while Baltimore offered $2.4M

Mora's reportedly recovered from the injuries he suffered in 2003, leaving him ready for spring training. He injured his right hand in late June of 2003 and was only back from the disabled list a couple of weeks when he partially tore the MCL in his left knee in mid-September, putting him out for the rest of the season. The 32-year-old was in the midst of a career year when his injury problems began, and I'm quite curious to see how he will perform in 2004, when he's scheduled to serve as the Orioles' starting third baseman. Mora played almost full time in 2002, but he's always worked as a utility player, jumping positions from start to start. His improving plate discipline and dropping a G-F pointed to a break out, so if the injuries didn't cause any lasting damage, he should be able to replicate a substantial portion of his pre-injury performance.

If Mora slides down to his pre-2003 production levels, then this deal won't be cost effective for the Orioles. At 32, he's past his peak years physically, and while his stats include positive indicators, he doesn't have a history of production matching this salary, so Baltimore's accepting considerable risk with this deal. However, if the first half of 2003 wasn't a fluke, he could emerge as a bargain for the club, besides I'm sure it's difficult to begrudge giving the father of quintuplets money.

2B-R Jerry Hairston and OF-R Luis Matos agreed to new contracts with Baltimore in January prior to exchanging arbitration salary figures. Hairston signed a one-year, $1.6M contract. The 27-year-old missed most of 2003 due to a broken foot, but his skills remained largely unchanged when he was able to play. He offers solid plate discipline and substantial speed with minimal power. Hairston and MI-S Brian Roberts will compete in spring training to determine who will serve as Baltimore's starting second baseman. Unless the Orioles complete a trade before Opening Day, new Manager Lee Mazzilli may have one of the most difficult spring training decisions to make, as the two players are essentially identically with Roberts possessing a smaller salary because he has less major league service time than Hairston, who is in his second off-season of arbitration-eligibility.

Baltimore signed Luis Matos to a one-year, $975,000 contract. Matos was eligible for arbitration for the first time this off-season. The 25-year-old, who offers solid power and speed, should return as the Orioles starting centerfielder in 2004. However, his plate discipline still needs improvement, without which I expect his batting average to fall.

The Orioles also signed UT-R Clay Bellinger and UT-S Mark McLemore to minor league deals. Bellinger signed with San Francisco prior to last season and spent the season with AAA Fresno in the Pacific Coast League, where he hit .268 with a .319 OBP and .459 SLG on 101 H, 18 2B, 3 3B, and 16 HR with a 25:72 BB:K and 2/4 SB % in 377 AB. Baltimore's bench appears full, but given the 35-year-old's position flexibility, Bellinger could see time as an injury replacement during the season.

If he's added to Baltimore's 40-man roster, McLemore will receive a one-year, $725,000 contract that includes incentives of an undisclosed amount, though the Orioles will have no reason to add the 39-year-old to the roster unless they plan to use him in the majors. McLemore will compete for a position on the Orioles' bench in spring training, hoping that his major league experience and position flexibility will win him a roster spot. However, last season, his walk rate fell substantially, eliminating much of his offensive contribution.