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Baltimore Orioles Add Much Needed Infield Depth with Thairo Estrada
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- Baltimore Orioles Add Much Needed Infield Depth with Thairo Estrada
On February 23, 2026, the Baltimore Orioles signed infielder Thairo Estrada to a minor-league contract, giving them much needed infield depth in wake of current injuries.
Estrada will have an opportunity to compete for a spot on Baltimore's 40-man roster, as his contract includes an invitation to spring training.
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After it was announced that starting third baseman Jordan Westburg and starting second baseman Jackson Holliday would not be ready for opening day, President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias has made a handful of moves to assure that Baltimore has depth in their infield, and adding Estrada was the cherry on top.
Estrada (30) is a seven-year MLB veteran, who has played for the New York Yankees , San Fransisco Giants and Colorado Rockies . Estrada debuted with New York in 2019, but is best known for his years in the bay.
Over Estrada's four-year stint with San Fransisco, he had a .254 batting average with 44 home-runs and 180 RBI's in 408 games. From 2021-2023, Estrada was an above league average hitter with a 108 OPS+, but he was really known for his defense. In 2023, Estrada set a career-high with +18 outs above average, displaying his elite defensive tools in the infield.
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Unfortunately for Estrada, the 2024 season was a rather tough one as he posted a -0.5 WAR in 96 games played. Following this season, Estrada was replaced in San Fransisco's infield, resulting in him to sign a one-year, $3.25 million dollar deal with the Colorado Rockies which included a $7 million dollar mutual option for 2026.
Baltimore Orioles Infielder Thairo Estrada (39) | © Lexi Thompson-Imagn Images
Like his final year in San Fransisco, Estrada would struggle offensively, even in a hitters friendly ballpark like Coors Field. In only 39 games, Estrada had a .253/.285/.370 slash-line with an 73 OPS+ and a -0.4 WAR. Colorado elected to declined Estrada's option for 2026, making him a free agent.
Estrada still possesses strong bat to ball skills, as .253 batting average last season could indicate a bounce-back in 2026.
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With Westburg and Holliday going down for an extended period of time, Estrada could have an opportunity to become Baltimore's platoon/defensive substitution infielder for the time being.
However, Estrada will have to prove himself during spring training, as he will be battling the likes of recently acquired infielder Blaze Alexander , former top prospect Coby Mayo , breakout utility man Jeremiah Jackson and recent waiver wire acquisition Bryan Ramos .
Adding Estrada brings little to no risk, as he could be stashed in Triple-A and promoted to the big league roster if more injuries were to occur. Estrada will have an opportunity to showcase his skills and prove why he's deserving of a spot on Baltimore's 40-man roster for 2026.
