The Orioles have avoided arbitration with right-hander Tommy Hunter by reaching an agreement Monday with the relief pitcher on a one-year deal. It is worth $4.65 million, according to an industry source.
Hunter, 28, lost the closer's role to left-hander Zach Britton in May last season, but he settled down after being moved back into the seventh and eighth innings.
In 60 appearances in 2014, Hunter was 3-2 with a 2.97 ERA. He had 11 saves in his first 12 opportunities but was removed from the ninth-inning role after blowing back-to-back save chances on May 10 against the Houston Astros and May 13 against the Detroit Tigers.
Following the agreement with Hunter, the Orioles have 10 arbitration-eligible players remaining: Britton, Chris Davis, Alejandro De Aza, Ryan Flaherty, Miguel Gonzalez, Brian Matusz, Bud Norris, Steve Pearce, Chris Tillman and Matt Wieters.
The Orioles haven't gone to an arbitration hearing with a player since before the 2012 season, when the team won its case against right-hander Brad Bergesen. The club is 7-0 in arbitration cases led by club general counsel H. Russell Smouse.
Hunter made $3 million in 2014, his second year of arbitration eligibility.
CBSSports.com first reported the agreement between the Orioles and Hunter.