Report: O'Day returning to Orioles on 4-year, $31M deal

The Baltimore Orioles have reportedly lured back coveted free-agent reliever Darren O'Day with a four-year deal worth $31 million, according to multiple reports.

The agreement is pending a physical.

O'Day, who was said to be seeking a multi-year payout in the neighborhood of Andrew Miller's $36-million contract last winter, had reportedly narrowed his choices down to Baltimore and the Washington Nationals. The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers were also believed to have bid on the 33-year-old sidearm pitcher, who apparently left the GM meetings last month with multiple offers in hand.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Nationals, at one point tabbed as the front-runners to land O'Day, were unwilling to offer the right-hander a fourth year. Despite reportedly receiving a more lucrative per annum offer from the Nationals, O'Day's new deal still averages out to close to $8 million annually, nearly double the $4.25 million he earned last season.

Widely considered one of the top relief pitchers available on the open market this year, O'Day posted a career-best 1.52 ERA and 11.3 K/9 rate over 68 appearances for the Orioles in 2015.

During his four seasons in Baltimore, O'Day has established himself as a strong late-game option for Buck Showalter's bullpen, authoring a stingy 1.92 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 263 innings.