The Orioles announced that infielder Luis Vazquez signed a Major League contract for the 2026 season. Vazquez was already controlled as a pre-arbitration player for 2026, but this trade gives Vazquez some more roster security (for now) and likely gives him a small raise above the minimum salary he should earn next year.
The signing has some similarities to the deal with Baltimore Rico Garciathat was also announced on Thursday. Essentially, Vazquez’s big-league deal and Garcia’s split contract are intended to prevent teams from claiming either player for waivers should the Orioles designate either for assignment this winter. The two situations aren’t exactly the same, as Vazquez still has minor league options remaining while Garcia is out of options, but both players could decline an outright assignment in favor of free agency if they DFA and are then outright removed from the 40-man roster.
Vazquez (who turned 26 last month) came to the Orioles from the Cubs in a cash trade last January and was designated and removed from 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, posting a .160/.208/.240 slash line in 53 plate appearances. Vazquez hit his first big-league home run, which ended up being the winning run in the Orioles’ 3–2 victory over the Astros on August 24.
Vazquez is known as an excellent defender and could earn a spot in the Show based on his gloves alone, and he will get some attention during Spring Training for the Orioles’ good field position. However, he will have to deliver a little more at the plate than his .404 OPS over 67 at-bats in the big leagues. His work at Triple-A has been much more respectable, as Vazquez has hit .252/.340/.408 in 839 PA careers with the best members of the Cubs and Orioles.
#Orioles #sign #Luis #Vazquez #Major #League #contract