Orioles restructure deal with Yovani Gallardo to two years - MLB

Update (7:22 PM EST): Per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the value of the deal is $22 million for two years with a team option worth $11 million for a potential total of three years and $33 million. Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun clarifies that Gallardo will earn $9 million in 2016, $11 million in 2017, and a potential of $13 million of the Orioles pick up the 2018 option or a $2 million buyout.

The Orioles’ reported three-year, $35 million deal with Yovani Gallardo was in limbo as they were concerned about the right-hander’s shoulder after he underwent a physical. MASN’s Roch Kubatko reports that the deal has been restructured and the two sides have agreed to two guaranteed years with an option for the third year. CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Rich Dubroff confirms the report.

There’s no word yet on whether or not the value of the contract changed. Presumably, the average annual value (about $12 million) will stay the same, but going from three to two guaranteed years is a lot less risky for the Orioles.

As noted on Tuesday, Gallardo’s numbers last year alone were reason enough to worry about his ability to be productive and healthy going forward. His average fastball velocity declined by more than two MPH to a career-low 90.4, marking a sixth consecutive season of velocity decline. His strikeout rate plummeted and his walk rate spiked as well, adding more reason for concern.

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SAN DIEGO — The scuffling San Diego Padres claimed catcher Gary Sánchez off waivers from the New York Mets.

The two-time All-Star was designated for assignment after playing in three games for the Mets. He went 1 for 6 with three strikeouts and an RBI, looking shaky at times behind the plate.

With the disappointing Padres (24-29) getting meager offensive production at catcher, they hope Sánchez can provide a boost. Austin Nola is batting .131 with three extra-base hits and a paltry .434 OPS in 39 games. His part-time platoon partner, second-stringer Brett Sullivan, is hitting .170 with four extra-base hits and a .482 OPS in 21 games since getting called up from the minors April 16.

Luis Campusano has been on the injured list since April 17 and is expected to be sidelined until around the All-Star break following left thumb surgery.

San Diego is responsible for just over $1 million in salary for Sánchez after assuming his $1.5 million, one-year contract.

The star-studded Padres have lost seven of 11 and are 3-3 on a nine-game East Coast trip. They open a three-game series at Miami.

San Diego becomes the third National League team to take a close look at the 30-year-old Sánchez this season. He spent time in the minors with San Francisco before getting released May 2 and signing a minor league contract a week later with the Mets, who were minus a couple of injured catchers at the time.

After hitting well in a short stint at Triple-A Syracuse, he was promoted to the big leagues May 19. When the Mets reinstated catcher Tomás Nido from the injured list last week, Sánchez was cut.

Sánchez’s best seasons came early in his career with the New York Yankees, where he was runner-up in 2016 AL Rookie of the Year voting and made the AL All-Star team in 2017 and 2019.

He was traded to Minnesota before the 2022 season and batted .205 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 games last year.

With the Padres, Sánchez could also be a candidate for at-bats at designated hitter, where 42-year-old Nelson Cruz is batting .245 with three homers, 16 RBIs and a .670 OPS, and 37-year-old Matt Carpenter is hitting .174 with four homers, 21 RBIs and a .652 OPS.