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The Orioles are keeping pitcher Albert Suárez in the organization.
Suárez was non-tendered on Nov. 21, but the club announced today that he agreed to a minor league deal for 2026. He will come to spring training with a chance to recapture his job as a swingman/long reliever.
Suárez was one of the most valuable players on the 2024 team after returning to the majors for the first time since 2017 and posting a 3.70 ERA in 32 games, including 24 starts. However, he sustained a shoulder injury during his first appearance this year on March 28 in Toronto and didn’t return until rosters expanded in September. He pitched in four games and was shut down with a mild forearm flexor strain.
The club received positive news after Dr. Keith Meister examined Suárez in October. Suárez was the only non-tender by the Orioles at the arbitration deadline.
Suárez made $825,000 this year. He settled for a minor league contract but the bullpen has room for him. Closer Ryan Helsley signed a two-year, $28 million deal with an opt-out and the Orioles reacquired Andrew Kittredge from the Cubs for cash considerations.
Today has become a news nugget day for the Orioles.
They also announced that they signed infielder Willy Vasquez to a minor league deal, assigned catcher Maverick Handley to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers and lost catcher Drew Romo to a waiver claim by the Mets.
Vasquez will receive a spring training invitation, per a social media post from Alex Cotto, vice president of baseball operations for the Movement Management Group. Vasquez is a 24-year-old right-handed hitter who reached Double-A last season in the Rays system and mostly plays third base. He also has experience at second base and shortstop and in right field, and he's a career .246/.308/.382 hitter in 420 minor league games.
The Orioles designated Romo for assignment on Dec. 10 in order to claim left-hander Josh Walker on waivers. They designated Handley the following day to create room for first baseman Pete Alonso on the 40-man roster.
This transaction could make Handley the answer to a future trivia question, with Alonso being one of the biggest signings in franchise history.
The switch-hitting Romo had joined the Orioles on Dec 5 on a waiver claim from the Rockies.
Handley was among a franchise-record seven catchers used by the Orioles last season. He went 3-for-41 with three RBIs, and runners were 13-for-13 attempting to steal.
The Orioles might try to carry three catchers on the Opening Day roster, though finding room could be a difficult task. They traded Alex Jackson to the Twins, and the 40-man roster only holds Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo.
President of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias is expected to keep searching for another catcher while focusing more on role players on the position side after the Alonso signing.
