Apparently, the Baltimore Orioles spring training roster wasn’t finalized after all. As reported Saturday afternoon, the Orioles have signed former Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Escobar will make $700,000 if he secures a spot on the active roster, per Jon Heyman.
This move is a head scratcher. Baltimore entered the offseason with Jonathan Villar and Steve Wilkerson on the roster, later claimed Hanser Alberto off waivers from the New York Yankees and Jack Reinheimer from the Texas Rangers, and selected Richie Martin and Drew Jackson in this year’s Rule 5 draft.