Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles: Caleb Joseph goes to arbitration with Orioles

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:36 a.m. ET

Fansided, Delia Enriquez/FanSided via Birds Watcher

Baltimore Orioles backup catcher Caleb Joseph went to an arbitration hearing on Wednesday. A decision regarding Joseph’s salary will be made on Thursday.

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Wednesday afternoon they have gone to salary arbitration with backup catcher Caleb Joseph.

Joseph asked arbitration Mark Burstein, Steve Wolf and Gary Kendellen for a raise from $523,500 to $1 Million, while the Orioles believe he should be paid $700,000 for the 2017 season. A decision is slated to come later on Thursday.

Joseph heading to arbitration was a shocker to Orioles fans, especially since he didn’t put up the year that would justify an arbitration hearing. According to ESPN, Joseph set the major league record for most at-bats and plate appearances without recording a RBI.

RBI became an official statistic in 1920.

Joseph was eligible for arbitration for the first time in his career after only hitting .174 with 3 doubles in 141 plate appearances. ESPN states the last player that previously had the most at-bats without recording an RBI was Wilbur Wood, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in 1971.

Joseph had 49 RBI in 2015, his last RBI being a single off ex-Toronto Blue Jays pitcher David Price.

The Orioles still have two more cases remaining. Kevin Gausman ($3.55 Million vs. $3.15 Million) and Brad Brach ($3.05 Million vs. $2,525,000) are expected to head to arbitration by February 17th. The Orioles are participating in a “file-and-trial”, meaning they won’t settle after salary figures were exchanged on January 13th.

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The first two arbitration cases of the year saw mixed results. Khris Davis defeated the Oakland Athletics in his arbitration case and the Boston Red Sox defeated Fernando Abad.