Orioles reach agreement with Guthrie (quotes added)

The Orioles have reached agreement with Jeremy Guthrie on a contract for the 2011 season, assuring that they won't go to arbitration with any of their eligible players. Guthrie will receive $5.75 million this season. He was seeking $6.5 million, while the Orioles countered at $5 million. His hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in Phoenix, but it's no longer necessary. Guthrie, who made $3 million last year, will likely be the Opening Day starter. He went 11-14 with a 3.83 ERA in 32 starts last season. Under manager Buck Showalter, Guthrie went 7-3 with a 3.14 ERA in his last 11 starts. Guthrie doesn't regard today's news as being a relief, since he was prepared to go to arbitration, but he appreciates not having to fly to Phoenix for a hearing and interrupt his spring training routine. "That's a big benefit. We don't have to travel across the country, and team doesn't have to, either," he said. "I wouldn't call it a relief. The arbitration process is build in so the two sides can come to an agreement and get disputes settled, if need be. Since Day One, I planned to go to Phoenix and was prepared for it. So, when it doesn't happen, it's not really a relief, but now we can all move on together and the attention can be on spring training