Baltimore Orioles’ Payroll Still a Bargain

Gregg Olson, Bob Milacki and Craig Worthington will be the three highest-paid second-year players in baseball this season, but the Baltimore Orioles’ payroll might still be considered a bargain in this era of skyrocketing salaries.

That, of course, should change as the club’s younger players become eligible for salary arbitration and then free agency. Preliminary figures, however, indicate the 1990 payroll will not increase dramatically, despite last year’s second-place finish.

Club President Larry Lucchino said the boost from last year’s payroll of approximately $8.2 million will be “significant.” But in a sense, the club will get off easy, due to the makeup of its 40-man roster.

Only 11 players (28 percent) on that roster have the three years of major-league service currently required for arbitration. Only three have the six years experience required for free agency.

It also helps that the club’s highest-paid player, shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., will earn $1,366,667 -- or $1.1 million less than last year. Ripken chose the lower salary this season to protect himself in the event of a lockout. He will again be a $2 million player next season in the final year of his three-year contract.

The Orioles would be in good shape even if Ripken’s money was spread out more evenly. They were the only club not to have a player file for salary arbitration this season. They also chose to negotiate with 0-3 year players rather than unilaterally renew contracts at salaries they determined. Stan Jefferson and Jose Bautista are now their only unsigned players.

Good business and good will: The combination amounts to blasphemy in modern-day baseball. But the signing of Olson yesterday to a one-year, $270,000 deal reflected the Orioles’ commitment to rewarding 0-3 year players at a time when the sport is engaged in a bitter labor dispute over the way that service class is paid.

“I think the Orioles deserve a tremendous amount of credit for stepping up and compensating Gregg at a very substantial level in the context of two-year player compensation,” said Olson’s agent, Jeff Moorad. “We’re thrilled with the result.

“This signing, along with the other signings of young Orioles, sends a message to players as well as to the fans: The Orioles are committed to winning, and committed to the future of the franchise.”

Olson, 23, set the American League rookie record with 27 saves last season and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year. His contract includes $30,000 of incentives that should be within his reach -- $10,000 each for pitching in 45, 55 and 65 games.

Olson appeared in 64 games last season, and should receive even more work this year as the Orioles’ closer from start to finish. His other potential bonuses are $50,000 for winning the Rolaids Relief award, $50,000 for winning the Cy Young and $15,000 for making the All-Star team.

Milacki, meanwhile, will earn a base salary of $235,000 after becoming the first rookie in 71 years to lead the American League in starts (he finished with 36, the same number as Mark Gubicza and Dave Stewart). Worthington will earn $207,500 after leading major-league rookies with 70 RBI.

Some perspective: National League Rookie of the Year Jerome Walton will earn $185,000 after having his contract renewed by the Chicago Cubs. American League runner-up Tom “Flash” Gordon will earn the same amount from Kansas City. Olson will make nearly 50 percent more than both players.

More perspective: Oakland shortstop Walt Weiss, the American League Rookie of the Year in 1988, earned $190,000 his second season.