The Orioles are expected to seal their first major league free-agent signing of the offseason by agreeing to a deal with outfielder Leody Taveras, a source confirmed.

The deal, which is still pending a physical, is worth $2 million and appears to be a depth acquisition and a bit of a reclamation project at that. Taveras can play center field, which is an area of need, and he is a switch-hitter.

The 27-year-old is a former top prospect who signed with the Texas Rangers for a bonus of more than $2 million in 2015 out of the Dominican Republic.

Once in the majors, Taveras made his mark in the field and on the bases. He finished the 2023 season with 2.9 wins above replacement, making him an above-average player but not the star some projected he would become. He finished that year with a career-best .733 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and 14 stolen bases.

The last two seasons have been more challenging for him. In 2024, Taveras posted a .229 average and .641 OPS in 151 games with Texas, though he did swipe 23 bases. Last season, he hit .241 with a .601 OPS for the Rangers before he was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. He struggled there, too, with a .174 average in 28 games. He became a free agent in October.

The signing, which was reported first by Mike Rodriguez on X and confirmed by the New York Post, is reminiscent of how Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias went about previous roster constructions. Ahead of the 2023 season, for instance, Elias stockpiled left-handed bats at first base and right field on minor league or low-level major league deals.

Taveras could serve as a defense-first center field option. According to FanGraphs, he accumulated 20 outs above average in five major league seasons for Texas, as well as a 20 fielding run value. (In limited time for Seattle, Taveras mainly played right field and he did so with a -1 outs above average rating.)

The Orioles are short in the near term in center field. After the team traded Cedric Mullins (who recently became a free agent himself) to the New York Mets, Colton Cowser primarily played in center.

But Baltimore may view Cowser more as a left fielder, particularly with the large area to cover at Camden Yards. His range at a corner spot is advantageous. That leaves room for center field help.

Although Taveras is first through the door, it doesn’t mean he’ll be the only one.

Throughout the winter, Baltimore will surely claim and waive several players. It will invite more to spring training to test their chances and potential fits.

Apart from Cowser, the Orioles have Tyler O’Neill and Dylan Beavers as returning outfielders.

Additional roster moves

The Orioles made several other moves Thursday, including confirming that utilityman Jorge Mateo had his option declined. Mateo became a free agent.

Outfielder Dylan Carlson also became a free agent, according to the MLB transaction log. He was acquired last year to provide depth, and he played more frequently than by design because of all the injuries. He didn’t hit well, finishing with a .203 average in 83 games.

Signing Taveras likely helped usher Carlson out the door, given Taveras is a better fielder. Outfielder Daniel Johnson also rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A and elected free agency.

The transaction log also indicates the Orioles claimed outfielder Pedro León off waivers from Houston. León can play all three outfield spots and did so in the minors in 2025. He struggled to make inroads with the Astros, playing seven career major league games, and the 27-year-old finished the year on the 60-day injured list.

And right-hander Anthony Nunez, part of the return from the Mets for Cedric Mullins, is now on Baltimore’s 40-man roster. He finished the year at Triple-A Norfolk with a WHIP of 0.894 and a 3.45 ERA in 15 2/3 innings. Adding him to the 40-man roster protects him from the Rule 5 draft, and it puts him in contention for the bullpen next year.

Rounding out the transactions, Baltimore saw left-hander José Castillo claimed off waivers by the Mets, and left-hander Josh Walker was designated for assignment. Right-hander Shawn Dubin was outrighted to Triple-A.

There will be many roster shuffles this winter. This is just the beginning.

This article has been updated.