Former Two-Time Gold Glove Winner Signs with Orioles

Former Cardinals and Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill reached an agreement to sign a three-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles in free agency. This contract will make O’Neill $49.5 million over the next three seasons, which includes an opt-out after next season. With great defense and impressive power, O’Neill will make a great addition to the Orioles’ lineup heading into the 2025 campaign. With this signing, the Orioles addressed the need for another outfielder and a right-handed hitting power bat.

Tyler O’Neill impressed in 2024, hitting an impressive 31 home runs in 113 games played due to multiple stints spent on the injured list. This total was enough to earn him 10th in home runs in the American League despite missing 49 games. If O’Neill had remained healthy, he was certainly on pace for his first 40 home run season. Unlike other free agents in the 2025 class, O’Neill does equal damage against both right-handers and left-handers, as he hit 16 of his 31 long balls against lefties and 15 against righties. O’Neill is also known for his defensive prowess, as he has won two career Gold Gloves dating back to his time with the St. Louis Cardinals.

At age 29, the only concern for O’Neill is his extensive injury history. Since his debut in 2018, O’Neill has only played over 110 games twice in his career, excluding the shortened 2020 season, where he was able to play in 50 out of 60 games during the COVID-19 pandemic. With that being said, in each season that he has played 110 games or more, he has racked up a minimum of 31 home runs, 210 total bases, and a minimum OPS of .847. These numbers prove why Tyler O’Neill was a worthy investment for the Orioles as they will look to capitalize on O’Neill’s production, assuming he can put together much healthier seasons than in years past.