The Orioles have signed infielder/outfielder Cooper Hummel, according to multiple O’s beat writers (including MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko). KPRC 2’s Ari Alexander reports that Hummel will receive $765K in salary as per his new contract. Hummel is represented by Gaeta Sports Management. Infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra was designated for assignment to create space for Hummel on Baltimore’s roster.
Hummel’s latest trip to the open market didn’t last long, as the Yankees officially released him from his minor league contract just yesterday. That deal contained an out clause that Hummel chose to trigger, and New York opted to just release Hummel rather than override the clause by adding him to their Major League roster. Baltimore will now be Hummel’s third different organization in two months’ time, as the Astros designated him for assignment just before Opening Day, paving the way for Hummel landing with the Yankees shortly thereafter.
The well-traveled Hummel has been part of eight different MLB organizations since he was an 18th-round pick for the Brewers in the 2016 draft. Most of his big league playing time came in his 2022 rookie year with the Diamondbacks, when he made 201 plate appearances over 66 games. Since that season, Hummel has seen only sparing action in the Show with the Mariners (10 games in 2023) and Astros (six games in 2024), and he has hit .159/.255/.275 over 235 career PA.
His minor league numbers are much more solid, with a .266/.403/.443 slash line to show for 2655 career PA in the farm systems of his various teams. The switch-hitting Hummel also brings some added versatility as a rare utility type that can play catcher, though Hummel hasn’t suited up behind the plate since the 2023 season. He has since been more of a standard first baseman and corner outfielder over the last two years, and Hummel hasn’t played much this season at all due to an unspecified injury that sidelined him for much of his time with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.
Hummel is out of minor league options, so the Orioles would have to designate him for assignment and expose him again to the waiver wire if the club wanted to move him to Triple-A. Vavra is also out of options, so the O’s essentially opted for one “26th man” type over another. Vavra’s minors contract was only just selected to Baltimore’s active roster yesterday, and he didn’t see any game action during his latest cup of coffee in the majors.
Vavra has essentially been a member of the Orioles’ organization since the 2020 trade deadline, apart from barely a two-week stint with the Mariners during the 2024 season before he again rejoined the O’s. Vavra’s MLB resume consists of 67 games with the Orioles over the 2022-23 seasons, with a .254/.331/.304 slash line over 159 career plate appearances.
Vavra has hit .294/.393/.446 over 1510 PA in the minors, and is more of a true utilityman than Hummel since Vavra has seen at least some time at every position on the diamond during his pro career. The Orioles may be aiming to keep Vavra in the organization if he can clear waivers, though since he has been previously outrighted in his career, Vavra has the ability to elect free agency if he is outrighted again.