Matt Wieters signs with Orioles, avoids arbitration

The Orioles ensured they won't have to go through a contentious hearing with their young backstop.

By Bryan Kilpatrick@purplerowBK Feb 6, 2014, 8:17pm EST

The Baltimore Orioles and catcher Matt Wieters avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.7 million deal on Thursday, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, who added that the agreement includes a chance for Wieters to earn awards-based bonuses.

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Wieters, 27, topped 20 home runs for the third consecutive season in 2013 but posted a career-low .287 on-base percentage while appearing in a career-high 148 games. The switch-hitting backstop owns a lifetime .420 slugging percentage at the big-league level and owns a pair of Gold Gloves and All-Star selections.

The Orioles offered a $1 million raise from the $5.5 million that Wieters made a year ago, but the Georgia Tech alum countered with $8.75 million before ultimately settling for $75,000 more than the midpoint. Wieters will be a free agent after the 2015 season. He and the club have not discussed a long-term extension, according to MLB.com's Adam Berry.

Baltimore has come to terms with all eight of its arbitration-eligible players.