TUESDAY 2:07 p.m. EST: Betemit will receive $3 million over a two-year contract, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. The deal could potentially be worth $6 million over three years, as there's a vesting option based on performance incentives for the 2014 season.
This gives the O's another option at third base. Other guys that are expected to be in play there include Josh Bell, Ryan Adams, Matt Antonelli, Ryan Flaherty and Mark Reynolds, who spent 2011 as Baltimore's third baseman but looked positively abysmal with a glove.
MONDAY 9:57 p.m. EST: The Baltimore Orioles have signed Wilson Betemit, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
Betemit, 30, is a 9-year veteran journeyman and the Orioles will be his 7th club (if I'm counting correctly - ATL, LAD, NYY, CHW, KCR, DET...BAL). He's a career .269 / .336 / .448 hitter and Baltimore could do worse than have that perfectly acceptable on-base to help fill out their bench. Connolly notes that Betemit "isn't known for his D," which is somewhat kind, but will likely DH and fill out some infield utility for the club:
- Twitter / @danconnollysun - "Orioles have agreed to terms, pending physical, with INF Wilson Betemit, on a 1-year, big-lg deal, acdng to an indstry srce #Tigers #Royals"
- Twitter / @danconnollysun - "Betemit batted .285 with a .343 on-base percentage in 97 games with the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers last year."
- Twitter / @danconnollysun - "He's a switch hitter w some pop and likely will do some DHing, tho Betemit can play several positions -- but isnt't known for his D"