As Orioles supporters, we recently received the best news we could have ever imagined: a group headed by longtime supporter and Baltimore native David Rubenstein was buying a majority (finally 70%) ownership in the organization.
Ever since, thoughts of a bigger salary have been circling around our minds. This gave rise to hopes that some of our young players would receive long-term contract extensions—hopes that had previously just existed in our heads.
Two events in baseball during the past week have an impact on these kinds of dreams. The Bobby Witt extension in Kansas City was the first. Witt, the 2019 second-round selection (behind Adley Rutschman), will remain a Royal for the next seven years, and possibly as many as fourteen, based on club choices and opt-outs.
The second occurred yesterday, when Vlad Guerrero Jr., in his third arbitration year, won his case and received a $19.9 million judgment.
Let’s examine each and the reasons behind their effects on the O’s.
