Looking at Eric Torres signing and more roster questions

A busy offseason for the Orioles feels like it’s got a lot left in the tank.

How does a team make this many moves and still project to do so much more?

They aren’t sweating the small stuff, either, with their latest depth move being yesterday’s signing of left-hander Eric Torres to a minor league deal.

He isn’t the southpaw acquisition that fans wanted to hear about, of course, but the Orioles also are stocking the Triple-A roster. He was assigned to the Norfolk Tides.

Torres, 26, was a 14^th round draft pick of the Angels in 2021 out of Kansas State. He posted a 2.31 ERA in 27 relief appearances with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2024 and struck out 55 batters in 35 innings, but he allowed seven runs and walked 11 batters in 7 1/3 innings with Triple-A Salt Lake.

Independent ball followed in 2025, and Torres registered a 1.59 ERA with 16 saves in 39 games with Lake Country in the American Association. He moved on to the Puerto Rican Winter League and tossed 23 1/3 scoreless innings with six hits and 39 strikeouts.

A team can’t have too much pitching or too many left-handers. Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns and Grant Wolfram are the only southpaw relievers on the 40-man roster.

President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias never crossed off top-of-rotation starter from his shopping list. The Orioles certainly could proceed with Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers at 1 and 2, and the depth is growing with Zach Eflin signing a one-year deal with a mutual option. However, the Orioles took a big swing with first baseman Pete Alonso and want the same bravado with their rotation.

It could be Framber Valdez or Ranger Suárez. They could try to execute another trade after acquiring Shane Baz from the Rays. Whatever the method, they aren’t ready to tap out and only take the current group to Sarasota.

The bullpen could use another high-leverage reliever. Length seems to be accounted for with Albert Suárez signing a minor league deal and Tyler Wells perhaps destined for bullpen duty again. Ryan Helsley is the closer and Andrew Kittredge is going to play a key role as a set-up guy.

They need more.

The position side isn’t likely to house anything as bold as the Alonso signing.

Outfielder Jhonkensy Noel seems more like a depth project, already out of options as his 25^th birthday approaches in July and a career .193/.242/.401 line in 136 games over parts of two seasons.

The power intrigues and he has a history with former Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz, hired as Orioles manager on Oct. 27. A corner outfielder who bats from the right side and also can play first base didn’t seem like a priority, but Elias could have other moves up his sleeve that might create room.

And if not? If Noel doesn’t hit in camp? He could hit the waiver wire again.

Another outfield addition was expected to come with center field credentials. So much for that notion.

The 13 position players on a mock roster in early January still seem to be catchers Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, infielders Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo, and outfielders Taylor Ward, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras. Noel becomes a candidate to bust the bracket, and we’re still left to wonder about infielder/outfielder Jeremiah Jackson, the possibility of a utility infielder, and whether Elias really carries this many first basemen.

I still have my doubts.