When the Orioles retained right-hander Darren O’Day on a four-year, $31-million deal this time last year, it was the most the club has spent on a free-agent reliever. Now that contract value is relatively small compared to the money being spent this offseason on late-inning relievers.
At last week’s winter meetings, right-hander Mark Melancon signed a four-year, $62-million deal with the San Francisco Giants, a record deal for a closer. That record stood just two days before the New York Yankees inked left-hander Aroldis Chapman for five years and $86 million.