The Orioles have signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with Tyler O’Neill, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The deal includes an opt-out for the 29-year-old outfielder after 2025. Baltimore gets some much-needed right-handed pop in its lineup by acquiring O’Neill, who will be on his third team in three years. His 2021 season appears to be an outlier as he hit .286 with a 141 wRC+ and hasn’t hit above .241 in the three years since. That doesn’t mean O’Neill can’t still be productive as he was in 2024 with Boston when he slugged 31 home runs and posted a 131 wRC+. Even though the Orioles are moving the fences in from left field this offseason, the move represents a downgrade in home ballpark for O’Neill, who should still be a solid fantasy option. Baltimore is getting a steal at this price if he’s able to stay healthy as his contract was likely depressed by the fact he’s only played over 100 twice due to injury. O’Neill is certainly an upgrade on Austin Hays, who entered last season as the starting left fielder.