Courtesy of Trade Rumors

Angelos Family Strikes Agreement to Sell Orioles

The Angelos family has reached an agreement to sell the Baltimore Orioles to a group led by private-equity billionaires David Rubenstein and Mike Arougheti for $1.725 billion, per John Ourand of Puck. The deal will require the approval of the commissioner’s office and the other 29 owners and is expected to be discussed at the owners’ meeting in Orlando next week, per Dan Connolly of Sportsnaut. Rubenstein, the 74-year-old co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group and a Baltimore native, would be the control person for the new ownership group, which includes, among its minority investors, Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr., per The Baltimore Banner. The sale would include the Orioles’ share in the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, per Jeff Barker of The Baltimore Sun.

Per Ourand, the sale would take place in stages, with the Rubenstein group taking control of 40 percent of the team upon approval by the league, with the rest to follow the eventual death of Angelos family patriarch Peter Angelos. That plan is designed to reduce the Angelos’ family’s taxes from the sale. Peter Angelos, who purchased the team in 1993 for $173 million, stepped back from his leadership role amid health issues at the end of the last decade. He is now 94, and his son John has been the control person for the team since 2020.

The Orioles signed a new lease on Oriole Park at Camden Yards in December and thus are committed to Baltimore for the next 15 years, which could be expanded to 30 if new development plans for the area are approved within four years. That and Rubenstein’s Baltimore roots would seem to assure that the Orioles will remain in Baltimore. What is less clear is if the new, wealthy ownership would result in the Orioles rapidly expanding payroll to take advantage of their successful rebuild and become a powerhouse in the American League East (which likely wouldn’t happen until next offseason), or of the new ownership can finally resolve the team’s conflict with the Nationals over MASN.

Blue Jays Sign Justin Turner

The Blue Jays have signed designated hitter and corner infielder Justin Turner to a one-year, $13-million contract with up to $1.5 million in additional bonuses. The 39-year-old Turner will primarily serve as the Jays’ designated hitter in 2024, though he will also likely spot at the infield corners. A late-bloomer who went from journeyman infielder to stud third baseman upon joining the Dodgers for his age-29 season in 2014, Turner has declined from his peak level of production in recent seasons but still hit .277/.352/.455 (118 OPS+) over the last three years, posting a comparable line for the Red Sox last year. He has also surpassed 140 games played in two of those three seasons, something he had only done once in his career prior to 2021. He’ll likely slot in somewhere near the middle of the Blue Jays’ lineup this season.

Corey Seager Has Sports-Hernia Surgery

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager had sports-hernia surgery on Tuesday but the team is optimistic that Seager will be ready for Opening Day. Seager suffered the injury during the offseason and gave it time to heal, but a lack of progress necessitated the surgery. General manager Chris Young told Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com that “the concern level is not very high,” while Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today reports that the team is unlikely to make any additions to compensate for a potential absence by Seager. Still, we are now less than two months from Opening Day (March 28), so any sort of setback could lead to Seager opening the season on the injured list, and the surgery could have a detrimental effect on his preparation for the season. Seager, who will turn 30 in late April, is the Rangers’ best hitter. He finished second in the American League MVP voting last year and hit .318/.451/.682 during their championship run in the postseason, winning World Series MVP honors for the second time in four years.

Front Office News

• Padres hired Craig Stammen in a player-development role, per Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Stammen, who retired as a player in August, will assist both the coaching staff and baseball operations departments while interacting with both the major-league team and minor-league affiliates.

Injury Updates

• Orioles LHP Bruce Zimmermann (core muscle surgery) is in Florida for early workouts and expects to be a “full go” when Spring Training starts, per Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com. LHP Keegan Akin (back) told reporters he is “right on track” for Spring Training.

Rumors

• Marlins have considered free-agent SS Adalberto Mondesi, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

• Orioles general manager Mike Elias told reporters the team is “probably being as aggressive as any team out there” despite having little to show for it this offseason, only to also provide a rationale for being cautious about “aggressive trades” that “can really set the franchise back if the guy shows up ad he gets hurt, or if you trade guys and you miss out on their long careers.” Elias added that the team still sees LHP DL Hall as a starter long-term.

• Padres have interest in free-agent RHP Michael Lorenzen, per Jon Morosi of the MLB Network.

Roster Moves

• Diamondback designated RHP Collin Snider for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for DH/OF Joc Pederson, whose contract is now official.

• Mariners acquired UT Samad Taylor from the Royals for a player to be named later or cash.

• Mets designated C Tyler Heineman for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for RHP Adam Ottavino, whose contract is now official.

• Royals traded UT Samad Taylor to the Mariners for a player to be named later or cash to make room on the 40-man roster for 2B/OF Adam Frazier, whose contract is now official.

Minor-League Transactions

• Guardians signed C Dom Nuñez and LHP Anthony Banda to minor-league contracts with invitations to major-league Spring Training.

• Mariners have come to terms with OF Nick Solak on a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

• Orioles signed LHP Andrew Suárez to a minor-league contract.

• Yankees signed OF Greg Allen to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league Spring Training, per Robert Murray of FanSided. Allen would receive a $1.1-million salary in the majors with up to $400,000 in available bonuses (in the form of $50,000 for every 50 plate appearances from 150 through 500), per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.