Orioles Make Quiet Move to Strengthen Roster
MLB Free Agency officially opens on Thursday night, but the Baltimore Orioles have already been active this week. The team recently announced Craig Albernaz as their new manager and reversed course on their trade with the Chicago Cubs at the deadline to bring back Andrew Kittredge for their bullpen.
Bolstering the Bullpen and Bench
The Orioles continued enhancing their bullpen by claiming right-hander George Soriano off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Their acquisitions didn't stop there; on Wednesday night, they added a bench player also from the Marlins.
Signing of Veteran Outfielder Leody Taveras
After hints from Mike Rodriguez, the Orioles officially signed veteran outfielder Leody Taveras to a one-year, $2 million deal, confirmed by Jon Heyman. Taveras has been mainly with the Texas Rangers since his MLB debut in 2020 and joined the Seattle Mariners to finish the 2025 season.
"Taveras' offensive output, which was never strong, struggled further after joining the Mariners this year, slashing .174/.198/.272 in 98 plate appearances."
Defensively, Taveras has generally been above average throughout his career, and his ability to steal bases adds valuable depth to the Orioles' bench for the upcoming season.
Summary
The Orioles quietly enhanced their roster by shoring up bullpen depth and signing versatile veteran Leody Taveras, aiming to improve both defense and speed off the bench next season.