MLB Insider: Mychal Givens, Baltimore Orioles in agreement on a contract

Mychal Givens, Baltimore Orioles in agreement on a contract.

Free-agent reliever Mychal Givens and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. Terms of the contract are unknown.

Givens, 32, was originally drafted by the Orioles in the second round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. In six seasons in Baltimore, he posted a 3.32 ERA and 406/129 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He spent the most recent four seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs before being traded to the New York Mets at the 2022 trade deadline.

In Chicago, Givens established himself as a dependable right-handed reliever. He posted a 2.66 ERA and a 51/19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 40 appearances. He struggled after the trade to the Mets, posting a 4.79 ERA in 19 appearances, and New York declined his $3.25 million club option for the 2023 season.

Considering his past success, Givens was always a candidate to draw strong interest on the free-agent market. In Baltimore, he figures to join a setup core in the late innings in front of closer Felix Bautista.

The Orioles remain candidates to upgrade their starting rotation, even after signing Kyle Gibson to a one-year contract. Veteran Jordan Lyles, who was a valuable innings eater in Baltimore’s rotation last season, is not expected to return, according to The Athletic. Among the pitchers, the Orioles have reportedly shown interest in include Michael Wacha and Rich Hill.