On a team with plenty of talented young players, Samuel Basallo now has a special distinction — the first to agree to a long-term contract. The Baltimore Orioles reached a $67 million, eight-year deal with the rookie catcher Friday,

After Samuel Basallo became the first young Baltimore Orioles player to sign to sign a long-term, pre-arbitration contract extension under this current regime, owner David Rubenstein expressed long-term optimism despite the club's last-place standing.