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In their negotiation with free agent closer Grant Balfour, the Orioles haven't yet gotten their man because of an unwillingness to offer enough years to close the deal. With another free agent pitcher, they didn't offer enough, with Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reporting that Mt. St. Joseph's product Gavin Floyd turned down a two-year, incentive-laden contract from the O's:
Industry source: #Orioles offered Balt native Gavin Floyd 2-yr deal worth, w incentives, $20M. Took 1yr, $4m (pot. $4.5 more w inctvs) w Atl
— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) December 17, 2013
Floyd, coming off of Tommy John surgery, was probably more interested in a one-year contract so he could bounce back and hit the free agent market in another season, where he might get a longer and larger guaranteed deal. After seeing the kinds of contracts lavished upon the likes of Phil Hughes and Jason Vargas, you can't really blame him for that. He could be in line for $30 million or more next year if all goes well. Floyd must be confident in himself that it will go well.
It's interesting that the team offered too many years to Floyd, who will be 31 in a month, the opposite of their apparent issue with Balfour. Would you have wanted to see a one-year deal for Floyd? He's been perpetually linked with the Orioles ever since the year he was drafted, when he was picked fourth and the Orioles picked seventh. Everyone loves when the local kid makes good.
From the perspective of the Orioles, a one-year deal given that Floyd is not expected to pitch before May seems to have not been attractive.
Floyd has pitched to a 4.22 ERA in seven seasons in the American League, only going over 200 innings one time, though he was above 190 two other times. That's decent enough for a back end of the rotation innings eater. Floyd has been homer-prone in his career despite also being a ground ball pitcher, which may not have been a good sign for him if he pitched in Baltimore.
