Mariners Might Regret Midseason Roster Move If Orioles' $2M Gamble Pays Off

Mariners Might Regret Midseason Roster Move

The Seattle Mariners had a World Series champion in their outfield this season, though many fans might not even recall it. On May 6, they claimed center fielder Leody Taveras off waivers from the Texas Rangers.

Taveras spent just over a month on the active roster before being designated for assignment. After clearing waivers, he was sent outright to Triple-A Tacoma. Two years after starting in center field for the World Series champions, Taveras finished the second half of his age-26 season in the minors.

New Opportunity with the Orioles

Broadcaster and journalist Mike Rodriguez reported that the Baltimore Orioles signed Taveras to a one-year, $2 million major league contract on Wednesday. As of Thursday morning, the club had not yet announced the move officially.

Performance Overview

Taveras played 28 games with the Mariners, slashing .174/.198/.272.
His OPS in 58 games this season was .530, declining from .641 the previous year.
In 2023, as the Rangers' starter, his OPS was .733 over a full season.

"The Seattle Mariners had a World Series champion in their outfield this season, and fans of the team might not even remember it."

Leody Taveras is poised for a fresh start that could reshape his career trajectory in the upcoming Major League Baseball season.

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Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-06