Orioles and Gibbons avoid arbitration

[WebHamster]

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Jay Gibbons to a one-year contract Thursday, avoiding arbitration with the three- year veteran.

Gibbons, 26, batted a career-best .277 last season with 23 homers and a career-high 100 RBI. Financial terms of his deal were not released.

He led the team in several categories in 2003, including RBI and hits (173). For that, he was voted Most Valuable Oriole.

Gibbons is a career .259 hitter with 66 home runs and 205 RBI over three seasons, all with Baltimore.

The Orioles have now signed all their arbitration-eligible players: pitcher B.J. Ryan, infielders Jerry Hairston and Melvin Mora and outfielder Luis Matos.