Orioles to sign outfielder Leody Taveras, adding depth

Orioles to Sign Outfielder Leody Taveras

The Baltimore Orioles are set to finalize their first major league free-agent signing of the offseason by agreeing to a deal with outfielder Leody Taveras, a source confirmed. The contract, pending a physical, is valued at $2 million and primarily adds depth while serving as a reclamation opportunity for the 27-year-old player.

Player Background and Skills

Taveras, a former top prospect, signed with the Texas Rangers in 2015 as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic for a bonus exceeding $2 million. He is a switch-hitter and can play center field, a position the Orioles currently need to strengthen.

Major League Performance

Once in the majors, Taveras demonstrated strong defensive skills and speed on the bases. He finished the 2023 season with 2.9 wins above replacement (WAR), making him an above-average player. That year, he recorded a career-best .733 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) and stole 14 bases.

"He finished the 2023 season with 2.9 wins above replacement, making him an above-average player but not the star some projected he would become."

Recent Challenges

However, the past two seasons have been difficult. In 2024, Taveras hit .229 with a .641 OPS over 151 games for Texas, while stealing 23 bases. The following season, he batted .241 with a .601 OPS before being claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, where he struggled further with a .174 average in 28 games. He became a free agent in October.

Significance of the Signing

"The signing is reminiscent of how Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias went about previous roster constructions."

This move reflects the Orioles management’s approach of adding potential through depth signings and reclamation projects.

Author's summary: The Orioles are signing Leody Taveras, a once-promising outfielder, to add depth and hope to reclaim his earlier potential after several challenging seasons.

The Baltimore Banner — 2025-11-06