The Orioles announced that they have claimed right-hander George Soriano off waivers from the Marlins. Outfielder Daniel Johnson has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move.
There wasn’t any previous indication that Soriano had been designated for assignment or put on waivers, but roster maintenance is common at this time of year. The 60-day injured list goes away five days after the end of the World Series, which can often lead to roster crunches. RosterResource projects the Marlins to have 46 players on their 40-man roster. Soriano clears up one spot but further moves will be necessary this week.
Soriano, 27 in March, joins a new organization for the first time in his career. The Marlins signed him as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic way back in 2015. He climbed his way up the minor league ladder, initially as a starter but with more time as a reliever as he got to the higher levels. He was added to the 40-man roster in November 2022 to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft.
He has spent the past three years as an up-and-down arm, getting shuttled between Miami and Triple-A Jacksonville. He hasn’t had a ton of major league success so far. In 118 innings, he has allowed 5.95 earned runs per nine. His 22% strikeout rate is close to average but his 10.3% walk rate is high and his 38.7% ground ball rate is low. He did show some potential in Triple-A this year. He logged 42 2/3 innings for the Jumbo Shrimp with a 2.32 ERA, 28.8% strikeout rate, 8.8% walk rate and 55.7% ground ball rate.
Soriano has exhausted his option years and is therefore out of options going forward. That presumably led the Marlins to nudge him off the roster. The Orioles have a lot of work to do on the bullpen. They traded away a number of relievers at last year’s deadline and then lost Félix Bautista to a shoulder surgery. Soriano could compete for a bullpen job in the spring, though it’s also possible they look to pass him through waivers at some point in the offseason.
Some things last a long time but not Johnson’s most recent stint on Baltimore’s roster. The 30-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Giants in August. He has 152 big league plate appearances over four separate seasons, with a dismal .196/.243/.322 slash line. In the minors, he has generally performed better at the plate, with some speed to boot. Dating back to the start of 2023, he has a .266/.331/.464 line and 105 wRC+ with 54 stolen bases.
He’s a solid speed-and-defense depth outfielder but he exhausted his final option season in 2025. He was going to have a hard time holding onto a roster spot next year, so the O’s have bumped him off today in order to grab Soriano. Johnson has a previous career outright, so he will have the right to elect free agency if he is passed through waivers unclaimed.
Photo courtesy of Jerome Miron, Imagn Images
The Orioles seem serious about addressing the holes in the back end of their bullpen: Garcia, Enns, and now Soriano this week. Kittredge re-acquired as a more prominent piece.
Let’s hope they are equally serious about filling two vacancies at the top of the rotation and closer.
Sure you meant front end of the bullpen. Hoping none of the guys save Kitt is a backend arm.
Yes, in this case when I say “back end” I didn’t mean innings but as the non-prominent guys they had to backfill. Kittredge may end up as closer if they do nothing else.
Hopefully, it will not be filling the rotation spots with waiver claims…
They do have a decent starting 5 assuming health
Bradish-down ballot cy young votes before tj
Rogers – crazy low and historic under 2 Era in 2025
Wells – low Era before tj
Rodriquez – #1 potential
Kremer – solid workhorse in a 5th slot.
Health will be a factor as 3 of the above only pitched a half season or zero innings last year.
You have to assume that you only get 100 innings from Tyler Wells in whatever capacity he’s in. I’d build a rotation you like without counting on GRod. If he’s healthy—great our rotation is even better. But the chance he’ll need a major surgery is real.
If Bradish goes down we’re in a bad spot. But you have to pencil him in for 25+ starts. Building a rotation where you expect GRod and Wells to give you 25+ starts—no. Assume the worst health with GRod and Wells has pretty much established that we won’t get 150+ innings out of him.
That means 2 big league starters with one of those being a #1/2 type. I’d be satisfied with that going into the season. I think there’s a chance that the farm produces a couple big league contributors on the pitching side. I’m looking at Gibson and LDL as the most likely pieces later this year. Could be as relievers initially.
Your dreaming. The farm system is bad. Elias has no clue what’s he is doing. He signs a guy for a 7 year extension after a few games. He signs ONeill for 45 million for 3 years and he played 30 games maybe. The Orioles will be lucky to win 80 games next year.
Just curious how many games did you attend last year? I was a season ticket holder and watched the team in person. They need a lot of moves to make it work and picking up fringe players isn’t going to make it. Elias is bad he hasn’t made a good move since he has been in charge.
Agree with Baltimore_44 – Wells has broken down the 2 times he’s surpassed 100 IP in a season. Best as swingman or the guy who can rescue a bad Kremer start Someone will miss starts and Wells can come in and pitch a few..
I would not bet on one pitch being thrown by Rodriguez. He’s a bonus for the bullpen if he can remain healthy.
That still leaves two holes in the top half of the rotation, preferably a #1 and someone between Bradish and Rogers.
Elias making moves like crazy, which has been part of his MO. He has a lot of roster to build so it’ll be exciting to see how it all comes together.
As far as rotations go, Bradish is a sure fire #1, Rogers was what Elias traded for. Kremer is what he is. Bradish will be a innings limited, as will Wells. Grayson will be starting from scratch (I like him as a closer next season).
That leaves a lot of innings to cover between in-house options like Suarez, Young, Povich, McDermott and others.
That leaves them needing a least 2 mainstay starters and a couple of old guy/project guys for back up.
I see one free agent signing and one trade for TOR guy. Something like Ranger Sanchez (?) signing and a trade for Sunny Gray, or something in that range.
O’s stocking up on depth if nothing else
Just another cheap move by the worst organization in baseball.
Another idiot!
Idiot? You must be looking in the mirror?
No you’re just an idiot
It’s just a depth move, bro. Relax.
Seems like we’re starting another year on the MerryGoRound.
Soriano had a good 2024 but a disastrous 2025. Way too many home runs allowed. Bullpen depth, and a low leverage arm.