The Baltimore Orioles finalized their contract with right-hander Yovani Gallardo on Thursday morning, albeit with different terms than they had first agreed to.
After Gallardo's physical prompted concerns about the health of his shoulder, the two sides restructured the three-year deal originally agreed upon Saturday night, with the 29-year-old accepting a new two-year deal that includes a team option for 2018. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Gallardo is guaranteed $22 million over the next two years, and could earn as much as $33 million if his option is exercised.
| Season | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $9M |
| 2017 | $11M |
| 2018* | $13M |
*Team option includes $2-million buyout
Gallardo had arrived at the Orioles' complex in Sarasota, Fla. on Monday to finalize their original three-year, $35-million agreement, but was sent for additional tests after an initial MRI revealed something troubling in his shoulder, prompting the club to reconfigure the contract.
Though the Orioles weren't willing to guarantee him three years, Gallardo has been one of baseball's most durable starters for more than a half-decade, averaging 191 innings and 32 starts per season since 2009. Last year, the former All-Star crafted a 3.42 ERA (124 ERA+) over 184 1/3 innings for the Texas Rangers, who extended Gallardo a qualifying offer that was rejected in November.
By signing Gallardo, the Orioles will forfeit a second selection in the 2016 draft, having already given up a draft pick to sign Dexter Fowler, who reportedly agreed to a three-year, $33-million deal with Baltimore on Tuesday night.