World Series champion Rangers outfielder leaves AL West for Orioles in early splash

World Series champion Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras leaves AL West for Orioles in early splash

The Baltimore Orioles have signed former Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras to a one-year, $2 million contract, according to MLB insider Mike Rodriguez.

Taveras, 27, played for the Rangers from 2020-25 before the Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers in early May of this year. Taveras hit .174/.198/.272 (35 OPS+) in 98 plate appearances with Seattle, leading to his demotion to Triple-A Tacoma, where he played for the rest of the season. Taveras, who can play all three outfield spots, hit .280/.358/.446 in 81 games for the Rainiers.

During his time as a Ranger, Taveras posted 5.1 bWAR and a .240/.291/.370 slash line with 39 home runs and 168 RBIs in 505 games.

Taveras had a career year in 2023, as he was worth a career-high 2.9 bWAR with a 101 OPS+ en route to helping the Rangers win their first World Series in franchise history. Taveras' biggest moments with Texas occurred during the 2023 American League Championship Series when the outfielder hit a solo home run off Justin Verlander in Game 1 and later robbed a home run from Yordan Alvarez in Game 5.

Orioles still have lots of work to do after signing Taveras

Taveras likely won't be a regular starter for the Orioles, but he could claim a starting spot if he continues to hit like he did with Triple-A Tacoma. The former Ranger will likely mostly play center field for Baltimore, as that is where the team has the most available playing time.

Adding Taveras was a good depth move for the Orioles, but they need to do a lot more this offseason if they want to return to the postseason. After making the playoffs back-to-back years, Baltimore shockingly finished last in the American League East in 2025 with a 75-87 win-loss record. The team clearly needs help on both offense and pitching, and adding Taveras was the first step in fixing their issues. Now, they must complete the remaining steps to compete with the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays for the American League East title next season.