The Baltimore Orioles are interested in keeping Zach Britton long-term, and it appears that baby steps were taken this winter to make a multi-year agreement a reality down the road.

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Orioles made a multi-year offer to Britton at some point this winter before the two sides agreed a one-year, $11.4 million contract for the 2017, a $4.7 million base salary raise from last season. The contract offer reportedly had two guaranteed years on it, with a team option for a possible third season.

It is not clear at this time if the Orioles multi-year offer jump started any serious long-term extension talks between Baltimore and Britton’s agent Scott Boras. Britton and the Orioles have expressed interest in doing a long-term deal in the past, with Britton set to become a free agent after the 2018 regular season.

Britton had one of the best seasons in Major League history for a relief pitcher. He went 47-for-47 in save chances in 2016, posting an earned run average of 0.54, which netted him some Cy Young Award votes in-addition to winning the Mariano Rivera Award for the best American League Reliever.

The 29-year-old Britton struck out 74 batters and walked only 18 opposing hitters in 67 innings of work while also making his second ever all-star team last season.

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