Orioles agree to terms with Tommy Hunter on 1-year contract
The Baltimore Orioles and pitcher Tommy Hunter have avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal, the team announced Monday.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports the contract is worth $4.65 million. Hunter, who was entering his final year of arbitration this winter, made $3 million in 2014.
The hard-throwing right-hander has pitched out of the Orioles bullpen the last two seasons, posting a 2.88 ERA and 6.9 K/9 rate across 147 innings. His WHIP mark of 1.03 since the beginning of 2013 ranks 15th among qualified American League relievers.
Hunter saved 11 games for Baltimore during the first two months of the 2014 season, but lost the closer's job to Zach Britton after pitching to poor results and missing nearly three weeks in May/June with a groin strain.
The 28-year-old reliever is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2015 season.