The Orioles have signed first baseman Jesus Aguilar to a minor league contract, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko reports (Twitter link). Aguilar, who was released by the Marlins after being designated for assignment, has been added to Baltimore’s taxi squad for the time being. With rosters set to expand from 26 to 28 players tomorrow, he could potentially be selected to the Major League roster in short order.
It’s been a poor season for the 32-year-old Aguilar, who batted just .236/.286/.388 through 456 trips to the plate with Miami prior to being designated for assignment. The Fish reportedly explored the trade market to find takers prior to the deadline but did not find much of a market. At the time, Aguilar was in the midst of a weeks-long slump, and he failed to right the ship in his final weeks as a Marlin. Since the All-Star break, he’s turned in a disastrous .188/.246/.347 slash line.
Poor as his 2022 season has been, there’s plenty of track record with Aguilar, a 2018 All-Star who swatted 35 home runs with the Brewers that season. That year represents a clear peak in Aguilar’s career, but he’s been an above-average hitter with Miami in each of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. From 2018-21, Aguilar touted a .262/.339/.471 batting line with 77 home runs and 70 doubles in 1661 plate appearances. The righty-swinging slugger also has a negligible platoon split in his career, so when he’s at his best, he’s a potential everyday option at either first base or designated hitter.
Aguilar could give the O’s some thump off the bench at a time when much of the lineup has been struggling to produce, and if he hits the ground running, there ought to be increased playing time available to him. Rougned Odor, Ryan Mountcastle, Jorge Mateo and Kyle Stowers, in particular, have had rough showings across the past couple weeks, while bench options like Robinson Chirinos, Ryan McKenna and Tyler Nevin have provided next to no offense in that time. Based on Aguilar’s own struggles, he shouldn’t be expected to come in and play the role of savior for an O’s team that’s still improbably jockeying for Wild Card position, but there’s little harm in taking what amounts to a free look at this juncture of the season.
Aguilar had been playing on a $7.5MM guarantee in Miami this year, but now that he’s been released and signed a new contract, the O’s will only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the MLB roster. The rest of Aguilar’s salary, plus the buyout on a now-moot 2023 mutual option, will all come out of the Marlins’ pockets.
Oh wow, how many first basemen do the Orioles need?
@Lefty_Os_Fan; yep, agreed. We are struggling hitting lefties and he’s a righty. Maybe?
Collect them all, is Elias’s attitude
Can’t say I watch much of Orioles baseball, but doesn’t he seem like a logical fit to slide into the DH?
If Aguilar is added to the roster, they’ll have two. Nevin played 1st but he’s back in Norfolk.
The problem is him being a righty. Good to have a lefty to take at bats from mountcastle
Well – they have exactly one right now – not sure who else you had in mind.
Lol how are you an Orioles fan and not know that they have exactly 1 right now: Ryan Mountcastle. Nevin was optioned. Aguilar would make it 2.
But sure, go off for absolutely no reason I guess.
Well they have exactly one right now.
Considering Nevin was the only true backup at 1B and he was optioned to Norfolk, Aguilar makes it two for the Orioles.
The poster GM for the saying “no stone left unturned”. And I ain’t complaining.
Oops, referring to Elias in response to Lefty’s post.
He traded away your closer.
Felix Bautista is the closer. Baltimore is tied with Seattle for least blown saves this season. Clearly the ninth inning hasn’t been much of a problem
Lopez blew back to back saves to the Twins before he was traded there. Elias knew full well he had a better closer in the wings in Bautista. The haul from the Twins was worth every penny.
Nice Flyer.
Low risk/high reward signing to provide insurance for Mountcastle at First Base/DH should they break into the playoffs.
Baltimore is too crime ridden to even care about. Let the savages savage each other.
Go troll elsewhere.
Edgy take, bro.
Facts over feelings
The only savage I know is the Macho Man Randy Savage and if there’s a city full of him he’s just going to run wild all over us while we ponder a course of action. Worse, being aware of this fact, this horde of bandanna enthusiasts will taunt us about it in short rhyming couplets. This is not good.
You all are Marvelous, just simply Marvelous ,lol
low cost flyer in case of an injury.
Would have like to seen the Tigers add him. Currently they are platooning Harold Castro, LH, with Clemens, LH, at 1B.
Maybe they will call Torkelson back up, but haven’t noticed much improvement since he hit Toledo.
Good for Aguilar. He goes to a contender and he goes from LoanDepot Park to Camden Yards.