Orioles reach agreement with Arencibia on minor league deal (updated)

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  Roch Kubatko

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  January 08, 2015 1:28 pm

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Perhaps concluding their search for catching depth, the Orioles have reached agreement with J.P. Arencibia on a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training, according to a source.
Arencibia, who turned 29 earlier this week, also can play first base. He’s made 21 starts at the position.
Arencibia is a career .207/.255/.403 hitter over five major league seasons, the first four with the Blue Jays, and batted .177/.239/.369 last year in 63 games with the Rangers. He’s hit 74…

Perhaps concluding their search for catching depth, the Orioles have reached agreement with J.P. Arencibia on a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training, according to a source.

Arencibia, who turned 29 earlier this week, also can play first base. He’s made 21 starts at the position.

Arencibia is a career .207/.255/.403 hitter over five major league seasons, the first four with the Blue Jays, and batted .177/.239/.369 last year in 63 games with the Rangers. He’s hit 74 home runs in 1,614 plate appearances, but he’s also struck out 462 times and drawn 84 walks.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette likes former first-round picks, and Arencibia was the 21st overall selection in 2007. The Orioles like former Rangers, and Arencibia batted .279/.320/.542 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs in 48 games last summer at Triple-A Round Rock.

Arencibia worked with new Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh, who was the Rangers’ minor league hitting instructor.

The Orioles also have noted that Arencibia is a career .304/.338/.565 hitter in 20 games at Camden Yards.

The Orioles have five catchers on their 40-man roster, though they could remove one later today while announcing Delmon Young’s deal. Duquette confirmed Young’s signing today on MLB Network.

The Sun first reported Arencibia’s deal.

Meanwhile, Major League Baseball announced the first workout dates for spring training and there’s been a change with the Orioles.

Pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout on Feb. 20, a day later than we were told.

Update: Here’s a Duquette quote from Arencibia:

“Arencibia has major league skills and experience, home run power and an excellent record in Camden Yards.”