Baltimore Orioles: Looking at the 2020 non-tender candidates

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 23: Renato Nunez #39 of the Baltimore Orioles is pictured in the on deck circle before an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 23, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 13-3. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Orioles 2020 non-tender candidates.

For a brief amount of time, Pedro Severino and Chance Sisco formed one of the top offensive catching units in all of baseball in 2020, but a late-season slump left both catchers limping into the offseason. Now, Severino enters the offseason as a first-year arbitration-eligible player.

It’s only a matter of time before Adley Rutschman cements himself behind the plate in Baltimore, but that won’t be in 2021. Pedro Severino is in his first year of arbitration and barring an offseason trade, he likely is not a non-tender candidate.

Since joining the Orioles as a waiver claim in 2019, he has put together back-to-back seasons with a wRC+ of 94 and has slashed .249/.321/.409 in 144 games. That’s a massive improvement from his .187/.223/.287 slash line in 105 career games with the Washington Nationals.

The toughest decision could involve designated hitter Renato Nunez. Across parts of three seasons in Baltimore, Nunez has hit 50 home runs, including 31 in 151 games last season. With his ability to hit 20+ doubles and 30+ home runs with 80+ RBI in a season, Nunez could see a solid pay raise through arbitration.

With no defensive value, a long list of younger options available to DH, and the need for roster spots in 2021, Renato Nunez is a non-tender candidate for the Orioles. Maybe, he can fetch some trade value with a permanent DH in the National League, but it’s hard to imagine any team giving up very much for Nunez.

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