Baltimore Orioles
Orioles again work their late-January magic to bring back MLB's leading HR hitter
Baltimore Orioles

Orioles again work their late-January magic to bring back MLB's leading HR hitter

Published Jan. 20, 2017 8:19 a.m. ET
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Mark Trumbo

Baltimore Orioles fans are having a serious case of déjà vu.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/822233241696563201

Free-agent slugger Mark Trumbo agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million deal to return to the O’s on Thursday evening. The agreement comes almost one year to the day that free-agent slugger Chris Davis re-upped with the Orioles on a multiyear contract.

And the similarities don’t stop there. Davis led the majors with 47 homers in 2015, while Trumbo led the majors with 47 homers in 2016.

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Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo

 Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The big difference between the deals? Davis inked a seven-year, $161 million contract –more than twice as long as Trumbo’s and more than four times as valuable in terms of dollars.

It’s a case of different player (Trumbo hit 36 homers in 2014 and 2015 combined) and a different market (Trumbo was one of many power hitters who settled for far less than expected when this offseason began).

It’s a bargain the Orioles and their fans gladly should celebrate, as Trumbo fills a big void in right field and in the lineup. Baltimore led the majors with 253 homers last season and is well positioned to do so again. But about that rotation …

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