The Baltimore Orioles’ outfield closed out the season in disarray.
Injuries, trades, and underperforming former top prospects left the team scrambling. During the second half, Baltimore’s lineups were filled with unusual mixes of unproven major leaguers, with Colton Cowser shifting between center and the corners as the lone regular remaining from the previous year’s playoff roster.
The Orioles made a move they hope will strengthen their outfield depth for next season — though it comes with some risk attached.
The Orioles have signed free-agent outfielder who started in center field for the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers — to a one-year, $2 million major league contract. Broadcaster and journalist Mike Rodriguez first reported the deal, which the team had not officially announced as of Thursday morning.
Taveras experienced a rocky 2024 season. The Rangers designated him for assignment in May, and after continued struggles, did so again on June 9. He spent the rest of the year in Triple-A, where he rebounded somewhat with a solid .804 OPS across 81 games.
Because he was removed from Texas’ 40-man roster and chose minor league free agency in October, Taveras was eligible to negotiate with teams ahead of most free agents, who can begin signing major league deals Thursday at 5 p.m. ET.
For Baltimore, Taveras is likely viewed as a depth option — a fourth outfielder who could contribute against right-handed pitching. Still, offering a guaranteed deal to a player who lost his big-league spot due to performance carries clear risk.
That said, he’s still only 27 and has a World Series pedigree (though he hit .175 in those playoffs), so one never knows if a bounceback might be coming.
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