The Orioles announced that infielder Luis Vazquez was signed to a Major League contract for the 2026 season. Vazquez was already controlled for 2026 as a pre-arbitration player, but this transaction gives Vazquez a bit more roster security (for now) and probably gives him a small bump over the minimum salary was slated to earn next year.
The signing bears some similarities to Baltimore’s deal with Rico Garcia, which was also announced on Thursday. In essence, Vazquez’s big league deal and Garcia’s split contract are meant to deter teams from claiming either player on waivers, should the Orioles designate either for assignment this winter. The two situations aren’t exactly similar since Vazquez has minor league options remaining while Garcia is out of options, but both players can reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency should they get DFA’ed and then outrighted off the 40-man roster.
Vazquez (who turned 26 last month) came to the Orioles from the Cubs in a cash transaction last January, and then was designated and outrighted off Baltimore’s roster just a week later. His contract was selected by the O’s in June, and he ended up appearing in 32 MLB games in 2025, with a .160/.208/.240 slash line to show for 53 plate appearances. Vazquez did hit his first big league home run, which ended up being the game-winning run in the Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Astros on August 24.
Known as an excellent defender, Vazquez might be able to carve out a bench spot in the Show on his glovework alone, and he’ll get some consideration for the Orioles’ utility infield position during Spring Training. However, he’ll have to deliver something more at the plate than his .404 OPS over 67 career big league plate appearances. His work at Triple-A has been much more respectable, as Vazquez has hit .252/.340/.408 over 839 career PA with the Cubs’ and Orioles’ top affiliates.
Well, as long as he “has might be able to carve out a bench spot” then why not.
Ouch! Hot stove!
BTW – in case you think I’m being a jerk, I like what Mark writes & his weekend chats, but he always has mistakes in his writing like this. Look, every site needs an editor and the thing is, Tim doesn’t even have to hire one. Just have each of their writers take turns reviewing each other’s articles. That’s what I had.my writers do when I ran the Chicago site at Bleacher Report and it was very effective. Not that they liked doing this, but all it takes is a second pair of eyes.
There isn’t a second pair of eyes on Saturday morning, Mr. had.my.
Just get two pair of crossed eyes. Three pair of hungover eyes. Etc.
AI, in under five seconds, can pick up and correct only typos and grammatical errors. Nothing else needs to change.
I can see why they gave him a ML deal after the breakout season he had for them this year. 😆 LOL
Like my Mets giving Richard Lovelady a ML deal on the heels of his brilliant performance in 25! 😂
These two guys are cluttering up the 40-man, which is inexplicable.
Several guys needed to be added before the Rule 5, and Vasquez is hardly a prize worth a spot.
deep breath. there are miles to go before we sleep, miles to go before we sleep.
Props for Robert Frost reference
whole point of these higher salaries is to later remove them from the 40-man roster but ensure they stay in the org, as the players will want to keep the money and other teams probably wont want to pay it
I actually like the depth strategy by giving them a couple extra bucks. This is something Angelos would’ve never went for. Trivial cost in the long run but allows you to expand org depth
Put him in the bullpen
Vazquez will be DFA after the winter meetings. Will stay if he clears waivers.
Next, O’s sign Jorge Mateo to a 3 year $15 million deal.😆
The Orioles need bench players and Vasquez and J. Jackson have shown they have the ability to play utility roles on the team. I’m not sure why, when teams make these types of bench, depth, roster flexibility type moves, people are negative about them. What do you expect with these types of roles being filled?
This move I don’t mind at all. Signing Mateo to 3.4M last year I did mind.
I agree, his place on the team should have been filled with someone else after ‘24, and arguably after ‘23
I completely agree, #ba$eba.
I think the expectation is for 13 All Star starting position players and an All Star utility player to spell all 13 positions.
Proven, cheap and that can win the Silver Slugger too.
Seems reasonable, right?