Height
6'4"
Weight
180 lbs
Age
21
College
N/A
Experience
1 yrs
Bats/Throws
L/R
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsC
| Year | Team | GP | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS | SB | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 39 | 0.16546762 | 5 | 16 | 0.5533889 | 0 | 23 |
Current Contract
Length
8 years
Total Value
$67.0M
Guaranteed
$40.2M
AAV
$8.4M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
The Orioles' decision to lock up Samuel Basallo with an 8-year, $8.4M AAV extension represents a puzzling investment in unproven potential that earns a D+ CVI grade. While catchers with any semblance of offensive upside carry inherent value due to positional scarcity, committing $67.2 million over nearly a decade to a serviceable starter feels like a significant overpay in today's market. Baltimore's competitive window is opening now with their young core hitting their prime, making this long-term gamble on a backstop who projects as merely adequate particularly questionable when those resources could address more pressing needs. The Orioles have historically developed catching talent well, but eight years is an eternity for a position where players frequently break down physically, and Basallo's ceiling doesn't appear high enough to justify this level of financial commitment. Even accounting for the premium teams pay for catching stability and the potential for modest offensive contributions, this deal feels like the kind of contract that will age poorly as Baltimore tries to maximize their current window. The lengthy term structure essentially bets on Basallo exceeding his current projection significantly, which rarely happens for players already labeled as serviceable rather than ascending talents.
Performance Analysis
Samuel Basallo grades as a solid performer among MLB catchers, earning a B- Performance grade. He is hitting with a 0.165 batting average and a 0.559 OPS (well below the league average of .720) this season. With 4 home runs and 15 RBI through 31 games (a 21-HR, 78-RBI pace over a full season), he brings moderate power to the lineup. As a rookie at 21, Samuel is a key contributor for the Orioles.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 4/10 | vs SF | L 3-6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tue, 4/7 | @ CHW | W 4-2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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