O’s sign infielder Thairo Estrada to minor-league deal

Written by:

Jared Watson

The Baltimore Orioles continued to add infield depth this week, signing veteran Thairo Estrada to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Estrada, 28, was a regular contributor for the San Francisco Giants from 2021–23, posting a combined .266/.320/.416 slash line over that span.

In 2022, his most complete season, he hit .260 with 14 home runs, 62 RBIs and 21 stolen bases across 140 games, finishing with 2.7 WAR while appearing at both second base and shortstop. A year later, he followed with 14 home runs and 23 stolen bases, again providing steady league-average offense (101 OPS+) while playing 120 games.

Cubs broadcast calls Thairo Estrada’s game winning three run home run in the top of the ninth inning as the Giants defeat the Cubs 7-6: pic.twitter.com/EZaEwDjvQC
— MLB Walk Offs & Game Winning Plays (@MLBWalk_Offs) June 18, 2024

Last season with the Colorado Rockies, Estrada appeared in 96 games and hit .247/.292/.381 with nine home runs, 41 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. While his on-base percentage dipped below .300, he remained steady at the plate, striking out in just under 19 percent of his plate appearances.

Originally signed by the New York Yankees out of Venezuela, Estrada debuted in 2019 before being traded to San Francisco in 2021. He has compiled a career .254 average with a .683 OPS across parts of five big-league seasons.

Defensively, he has logged more than 2,000 innings at second base and over 1,500 at shortstop in the majors, with defensive metrics grading him near average at both positions for his career.

Ron Wotus saw Thairo Estrada using an abnormally small glove as a training tool and wanted to give it a try 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/WXFimPXim9
— KNBR (@KNBR) April 12, 2022

For Baltimore, the signing carries added weight given the early-camp injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday. Westburg’s oblique issue and Holliday’s hamate bone surgery have created short-term uncertainty in camp.

By adding Estrada, manager Craig Albernaz secures a veteran who has averaged 3.2 fWAR per 162 games during his two most productive seasons and can credibly handle multiple infield roles if called upon this season.

What are your thoughts on this signing? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!

Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!