O’s sign OF Gentry to minor league deal; Flaherty joins Phils

The Orioles are bringing back veteran outfielder Craig Gentry, signing him to a minor league deal Wednesday afternoon.

Gentry, who has agreed on a deal that would earn him $900,000 in base salary if he makes the major league roster, according to an industry source, was a valuable contributor to last season’s team as a fourth outfielder as well as a defensive and speed upgrade off the bench. The Orioles also signed left-handers Élvis Araujo and David Holmberg to minor league deals.

Gentry has been invited to major league spring training and will again compete for a bench outfielder spot. Gentry made the Opening Day roster last season after signing a minor league deal and posting a .957 OPS with seven stolen bases in as many attempts in the spring.

The 34-year-old played in 77 games with the Orioles during the regular season, hitting .257/.333/.386 with two homers and 11 RBIs.

The return of Gentry is the second outfield acquisition of the offseason. The team traded for left-handed platoon hitter Jaycob Brugman in a trade with the Oakland Athletics in November.

Araujo, 26, joins the Orioles with 72 games of major league experience — all with the Philadelphia Phillies and all in relief — in 2015 and 2016. He has a 4.35 ERA in 62 career innings.

Holmberg, 26, was the Chicago White Sox’s second-round draft pick in 2009. He has 51 games of major league experience (19 starts) with a 5.49 ERA. Flaherty signs with Phillies: Utility man Ryan Flaherty, who has been a key piece on Orioles clubs the past six years, has agreed to on a minor league contract with Philadelphia, according to industry sources.

The Orioles had interest in bringing Flaherty, 31, back and had been in discus- sions with him in recent days, but they couldn’t put a comparable offer together before Flaherty decided to sign with the Phillies, according to a source.

Obscured by the team’s need for three starting pitchers to fill out its starting rotation, the Orioles are also still searching for a utility infielder as spring training opens next week in Sarasota, Fla.

Not only did the Orioles seek a reunion with Flaherty to fill the utility position, but they also had a failed pursuit of veteran Ryan Goins, who signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals.