The Orioles announced this afternoon that catcher Luis Torrens had cleared waivers and elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.
Torrens, 27, was a prospect in the Yankees organization when the Reds selected him in the 2016-17 offseason’s Rule 5 draft before trading him to the Padres. Torrens made his big league debut with San Diego during the 2017 season and stayed on the roster all year, batting .163/.243/.203 in 139 plate appearances as the club’s back up catcher. Torrens would spend the entire 2018 season and most of 2019 in the minors before returning to a regular role with the Padres in 2020. Torrens slashed .273/.333/.364 in 7 games during the shortened 2020 season with San Diego before he was traded to Seattle as part of the deal that brought Austin Nola to the Padres.
Torrens would stay with the Mariners through the end of the 2022 season, ultimately batting .239/.297/.388, good for a wRC+ of 93, over 609 plate appearances for the club before Seattle non-tendered him this past November. Torrens went on to sign a minor league deal with the Cubs, making the club’s Opening Day roster as a third catcher. Torrens stepped to the plate just 22 times in Chicago, however, prior to being designated for assignment and traded to the Orioles. He ultimately did not make it into a game for Baltimore before the club decided to DFA him as well.
Overall, Torrens has been a 92 wRC+ hitter since the end of the 2017 season, a perfectly solid mark for a catcher. As Torrens re-enters free agency, he figures to be an attractive option for multiple teams as catching depth, leaving him likely to latch on with another club in short order. In particular, the Angels are known to have explored catching additions recently as the club relies on Matt Thaiss and Chris Okey behind the plate with each of Max Stassi, Logan O’Hoppe, and Chad Wallach currently on the injured list.
Mitch Keller is putting on a pitching clinic today against the Orioles. No wasted pitches. Every pitch has a purpose. He looks like Greg Maddux, but he’s throwing 98.
No one cares. Pirates are trash except when Keller pitches. And that has nothing to do with Torrens.
Sorry to disturb everyone in the Luis Torrens comment section. Won’t happen again.
Torrens might have a long career, catching for the White Sox.
Torrens will have a long career if he is careful to select the right team with the right hitting coach. The reason the Yankees left such a talented prospect unprotected was when he was in A ball he had to get Tommy John surgery. Had that not happened he would probably be the Yankees starting catcher. He missed the year before going to the Padres entirely. Then rode the bench in Seattle. He needs a team that is willing to finish his development
@King. Quiet you bell end. A lot of posters enjoy good pitching. Not like Don is distracting a well thought out dialogue concerning Luis Torrens.
Solid ace of the staff.
Now build around him.
Luis Torrens has around 175 million reasons to continue to pursue MLB.
Well that was pointless.
No, that wasn’t pointless.
That was….ahem….
The ACE!!
The Orioles only claimed Torrens to act as a taxi catcher while Maverick Handley nursed a hand injury. Otherwise it was just Bemboom at AAA, so they pulled Kolosvary from the taxi squad.
Do the Orioles get a refund
Torrens is hitting better than the current Padres catchers. AJ Preller will sign him for 5y/$60M.
Put him at 3B, can’t hit any worse.
They should option Austin Nola to AAA yesterday. His .148/.250/.210 is a brutal slash line.
Bring back Torrens or bring up Severino, but SD has to do something at catcher.
That’s almost as brutal as O.J.’s slash lines.
Angels are starting Okey tomorrow.
Come on over here.