The Baltimore Orioles have signed outfielder Tyler O’Neill of Burnaby, British Colombia to a three year deal worth $49.5 million according to the Associated Press on Saturday. Even though the contract is three years, O’Neill can opt out of the contract after the first year. If O’Neill decides to play the next three season in Baltimore, he will earn $16.5 million per season.
O’Neill is joining his third Major League Baseball franchise. He played six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2023, and the 2024 season with the Boston Red Sox. While with the Cardinals, O’Neill won back-to-back National League Golden Glove Awards in 2020 and 2021. He had a fielding percentage of 1.000 in 202o, as he made all 89 of his putouts. However, O’Neill won the 2021 Golden Glove Award despite leading the National League with nine defensive errors.
In 2024, O’Neill batted .241 with 31 home runs and 61 runs batted in. During 113 games, 411 at bats, and 473 plate appearances, O’Neill scored 74 runs, and had 99 hits, 18 doubles, four stolen bases, 210 total bases, two sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .336, and a slugging percentage of .511. O’Neill’s sacrifice flies came in an 8-6 Red Sox win over the Philadelphia Phillies on June 13, and in a 9-7 Red Sox win over the New York Yankees on July 26.
