SARASOTA—The Orioles signed infielder Thairo Estrada to a minor league contract on Monday.
Estrada, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday, has been primarily a second baseman in his seven-year major league career. He’s also played third base, shortstop and the outfield.
In 2025, Estrada hit .253 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 39 games with Colorado. He began his major league career with the New York Yankees and spent four seasons with San Francisco, where Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was the bullpen coach.
“He’s just a grindy, gritty ballplayer,” Albernaz said. “He’s a tough out. He has some pop.”
The Orioles need infielders since both second baseman Jackson Holliday, who had surgery to remove the hamate bone in his right wrist, and third baseman Jordan Westburg, who has a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, will start the season on the injured list.
“Not sure what he’s been doing. We want to make sure he gets his feet underneath him, get his legs underneath him,” Albernaz said. “Then he’ll filter in with the rest of the group.”
Estrada has more major league experience than Luis Vázquez or Weston Wilson, two other infielders on minor league contracts.
“We don’t even know what we have yet. Then we’ll see where he’s at,” Albernaz said. “There’s no leg up here with the competition or the rest of the guys.”
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