Orioles announced infielder this morning Luis Vazquez Definitely waived and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. He will serve as Baltimore’s non-roster depth heading into the 2026 season.
Vazquez, 25, was acquired by the Orioles after a minor trade with the Cubs last offseason. He was drafted in the 14th round by Chicago in 2017 and didn’t make his major league debut until last year, when he appeared in 11 games with the Cubs. He got more attention in a backup role with Baltimore last year but still hasn’t established himself as a depth option at the major league level. In 43 majors games between the two clubs, Vazquez appeared in 67 games and hit just .145/.194/.210 (13 wRC+). Vazquez’s career strikeout rate in the major leagues is 29.9%, and his walk rate is 4.5%. His power is beyond reproach. If his development does not take another step forward, it is difficult to imagine that Vazquez’s hitting ability is enough to become a reliable backup option at the major league level.
However, that didn’t stop the Orioles from signing Vazquez to a major league contract earlier this month. It’s a tactic that creates a win-win situation for player and team; Vazquez gets a guaranteed salary slightly above the MLB minimum, and the Orioles can safely take him off the roster without having to worry about another team claiming him or Vazquez declining to accept a free agent appointment. This could allow Vazquez to become a depth piece for Baltimore while also potentially continuing his development in Triple-A. Although Vazquez struggled in the majors, he performed quite well with the Orioles’ Norfolk affiliate, posting a .271/.343/.413 slash line (106 wRC+) at that level.
Regardless of whether Vazquez can take a step forward at the plate, he’ll still be valuable depth for Baltimore given his defensive prowess and versatility. Vazquez was a solid defender at shortstop and second and third base, and he also made brief cameos at first base and in the corners of the outfield. A quality infield glove with the versatility to play the outfield in a pinch and the speed to be a reliable backup runner could serve as a potential stopgap to fill out a roster spot if injuries create a vacancy during the season, and Vazquez can fill that role while still being young with potential for future development, making him an attractive enough asset for the Orioles to provide him with some extra guarantees to keep him with the team.
When it comes to major league bullpen, Orioles players have some combinations Lady Taveras, Jeremiah Jackson, maverick handley, Ryan Nordaand Heston Shellstad As a reserve player, Taveras firmly holds a bench spot in this group. At the moment, it seems likely that the two spots on the bench will be used in one platoon Ryan Mountcastle and Samuel Barsalo in DH as well as Tyler O’Neal/Dylan Beavers Lines up in right field. Of course, the Orioles’ position mix could still change significantly before Opening Day if trades thin the herd or Baltimore continues to pursue the big bats even after adding one. Tyler Wardwhich seems possible.
