Orioles sign Ramón Laureano to one-year deal with option

As speculation and rumors keep swirling about the Orioles’ quest to add another starting pitcher, contract agreements are finalized to deepen the outfield and raise more questions about possible future moves.

A crowded outfield is going to need extra space. The team announced today that it signed Ramón Laureano to a one-year deal with a club option for 2026. He can earn $4 million this season and the option is worth $6.5 million, per a source.

A corresponding 40-man roster move involved infielder Luis Vázquez, who was designated for assignment after the Orioles acquired him from the Cubs Friday for cash considerations.

Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins and Tyler O’Neill are the projected starters, with Heston Kjerstad viewed as the favorite to make the club as a fourth outfielder. Dylan Carlson signed last month for $975,000, but he holds three minor league options. Daz Cameron also is on the 40-man.

Carrying a fifth outfielder would whittle the infield group to six. Jorge Mateo is questionable for Opening Day after undergoing elbow surgery in late August. He’s going to be slow-played in camp.

Asked at the Birdland Caravan if he had any health updates, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias replied, “Not to the level that I would get into here. I traditionally kind of forecast anybody who’s off or on an abnormal schedule when we get down to Sarasota, so I’ll probably do that in a couple of weeks.”

More depth? An injury? A future trade in the works?

It should make sense later. In the meantime, the intrigue is building.

The Astros selected Laureano in the 16^th round in 2014 while Elias was scouting director. He was traded to the Athletics three years later, selected on waivers by the Guardians in 2023 and signed by the Braves last May.

Laureano, 30, is a career .247/.319/.430 hitter in seven major league seasons. His best work at the plate was done in 2019 when he hit .288/.340/.521 with 29 doubles and 24 home runs in 123 games. He hasn’t played in more than 105 since reaching that mark and appeared in a combined 98 last summer.

In August 2021, Major League Baseball suspended Laureano for 80 games after he tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone. He underwent core surgery two months later.

The Braves non-tendered Laureano after he hit .296/.327/.505 with 13 doubles and 10 homers in 67 games. MLBTradeRumors.com projected that he’d earn $6.1 million in arbitration.

Laureano, who’s out of options, has compiled a 13.9 bWAR over his 610 major league games. He’s primarily a center field but also can play right and left, bringing the same versatility as Cowser and O’Neill. He’s also known for his plus arm - Statcast rates it in the 100th percentile in baseball - and occasional highlight-reel catches.

Why he’s going to be in Sarasota isn’t evident at the moment.