NEW YORK — American League Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman had their contracts renewed by the Orioles without an agreement for the second straight season.
They’re among 12 players across the major leagues whose salaries were set by teams.
Henderson will make $756,200 while in the major leagues this season and $361,600 in the unlikely event he is optioned to the minors. A unanimous pick for 2023 AL Rookie of the Year, the infielder hit .255 with 28 homers, 82 RBIs and 10 stolen bases last year.
Henderson had a $723,200 salary last year and earned $1,428,001 from the pre-arbitration bonus pool, established in the 2022 labor contract.
Rutschman will get $760,300 while in the major leagues and $366,950 while in the minors after batting .277 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs. A first-time All-Star, Rutschman earned $733,900 last year plus $1,798,439 in the bonus pool.
During the MLB winter meetings in December, mega-agent Scott Boras, who represents Henderson and top prospect Jackson Holliday, quipped that the Orioles reach out about signing Henderson and Holliday to contract extensions “only once or twice a day.”
“With those kinds of things, obviously we listen,” he said. “[General manager] Mike [Elias] and I talk a lot. Obviously our job is to filter those phone calls and relay them to the players. We kind of discuss it and see if it’s something the player himself is interested in.”
Players have the right to go to salary arbitration once they have three years of major league service, or are in the top 22% by service time of those with at least two years and less than three. They can become free agents once they have six seasons of service.
Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players on their 40-man rosters from March 2-11. Renewals dropped from 15 last year and 16 in 2022.