Assuming he passes a physical this morning in Baltimore, right fielder Jay Gibbons officially will be announced today as the third member of the Orioles' lineup signed through 2009 - joining shortstop Miguel Tejada and new catcher Ramon Hernandez.
Gibbons, who turns 29 in March, agreed to a four-year extension yesterday that is worth just over $21 million, The Sun has learned. Facing an arbitration hearing next month, the Orioles and Gibbons' agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, began discussing a contract extension in December. During much of the negotiations, the sides were focused on a three-year pact that would have allowed Gibbons to avoid arbitration in 2006 and stay with the team through 2008.
But the agreed-upon deal keeps the left-handed power hitter, who has never played a major league game in another uniform, with the Orioles for four more seasons.
Gibbons came to the Orioles as a Rule 5 draftee from the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000. He has hit 102 homers and driven in 331 runs in parts of five seasons here. Last year, he was tied for second on the team in homers with 26 and was third with 79 RBIs. Neither he nor his agents could be reached for comment. A news conference announcing the signing is expected this afternoon.
Club executive vice president Mike Flanagan, however, was hesitant to call the deal done last evening.
"The talks are ongoing and we are confident something will get done, but the [contractual] language is not completed as of yet," Flanagan said.
In arbitration, Gibbons was asking for $5.3 million - a raise from $2.8 million in 2004 - while the Orioles countered with $4 million. Now, Gibbons, on average, will make about $5.275 million annually, roughly what the Orioles would have had to pay him in 2006 if they had lost arbitration.
The news comes at a fortuitous time for Gibbons, who will be married Saturday in California.
The signing also has a certain significance for Flanagan and vice president Jim Duquette, who this offseason have stressed the importance of locking up their own players before they can leave via free agency.
Now that the Gibbons deal is finished, the Orioles likely will turn their attention to third baseman Melvin Mora, who is signed through the coming season for $4 million. The team has made an initial offer to Mora's agent, Lon Babby, but terms were not released.
