Baltimore knew Mark Trumbo would command a big salary when they acquired him from Seattle and now the Orioles have signed the first baseman/outfielder to a one-year, $9.15 million deal to avoid arbitration.
Trumbo didn’t cost much to acquire because he was a quasi-salary dump, as the Mariners didn’t feel like paying him $9 million for 2016. In their search for power the Orioles felt he was worth that salary following a season in which Trumbo hit .262 with 22 homers and a .759 OPS in 142 games.
Entering his final season prior to free agency, the 30-year-old Trumbo is penciled in at first base but could end up shifting elsewhere depending on whether the Orioles re-sign Chris Davis.