Orioles finalize $5.75M deal with power hitter Pedro Alvarez

FILE - This is a 2015 photo showing Pedro Alvarez of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. A person familiar with the negotiations says infielder Pedro Alvarez and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a $5.75 million, one-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday, March 8, 2016, because the deal had not yet been finalized by the Orioles.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) FILE - This is a 2015 photo showing Pedro Alvarez of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. A person familiar with the negotiations says infielder Pedro Alvarez and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a $5.75 million, one-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday, March 8, 2016, because the deal had not yet been finalized by the Orioles.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

By Associated Press March 10, 2016 1 min read

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – The Baltimore Orioles have finalized their $5.75 million, one-year contract with infielder Pedro Alvarez.

A 29-year-old power hitter, Alvarez has 131 homers in six major league seasons and was an All-Star in 2013. He hit .243 with 27 homers, 77 RBIs and 131 strikeouts last year.

Alvarez, who became a free agent in December when Pittsburgh failed to offer a contract, is likely to get most of his action as the Orioles’ designated hitter.

Alvarez could earn an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances under the deal announced Thursday: $200,000 each for 350, 400, 450, 500 and 550, and $250,000 for 600.

To make room for Alvarez on the 40-man roster, Baltimore released right-hander Andrew Triggs.