Albert Suárez is returning in 2026 after all.

The Orioles signed Suárez, 36, to a minor league deal Wednesday, reuniting with the veteran right-hander after nontendering him in late November. He provides organizational depth as a swing man capable of starting and pitching in relief, a role that proved crucial in 2024 when he posted a 3.70 ERA across 24 starts and eight bullpen appearances. 

“We love Albert,” Elias said after the nontender deadline Nov. 21. “It was a real bummer and it was a big part of a lot of the struggles we had last year that he got hurt. I don’t want to go into details about our decision-making as we approach these tender decisions, but we very much are fans of Albert and we’re very much hoping to continue talking to him, and made that clear to him and his group. And I hope the feeling’s mutual.” 

Suárez was a savvy find by the Orioles’ international scouting department, originally signing with the club in September 2023 after stints in Japan, South Korea and Venezuela. He made his first MLB appearance in nearly seven years when the Orioles called him up the following April and he remained there the rest of the season, tallying the second-most innings of any pitcher on the team behind only ace Corbin Burnes (194 1/3). 

Injuries struck in 2025. Suárez felt shoulder soreness toward the end of spring training and it carried over into his first appearance of the season. He landed on the injured list with a grade two right subscapularis strain and didn’t return until Sept. 2, only to make just four appearances before elbow discomfort ended his season. 

Neither issue required surgery and Suárez is expected to be healthy for the start of spring training. The Orioles have yet to make any major additions to their rotation; their only other starting pitcher-related transaction to date was trading right-hander Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward. 

Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells and Cade Povich currently project to fill out the Orioles’ rotation with Suárez, Brandon Young, Chayce McDermott and top pitching prospect Trey Gibson among its other internal options. Suárez could also be in the mix for the Orioles’ opening day rotation, facing competition from Dietrich Enns, Kade Strowd, Rico Garcia and Colin Selby for spots, among others. 

Around the horn

• The Orioles announced another minor league deal Wednesday with infielder Willy Vasquez. The 24-year-old signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic and worked his way up to Double-A before being released in November. He hit .256 with two home runs, six stolen bases and a .656 OPS in 44 games for Double-A Montgomery last season. 

• The New York Mets claimed catcher Drew Romo from the Orioles off waivers Wednesday. Romo, 24, was a 2020 first-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies who Baltimore claimed Dec. 5, only to be designated for assignment five days later when the Orioles claimed left-hander Josh Walker from the Atlanta Braves. 

• The Orioles did manage to sneak catcher Maverick Handley through waivers, outright assigning him to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. Handley was the roster casualty DFA’d to make room for first baseman Pete Alonso, but he remains with the club as key catcher depth; Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo are the Orioles’ only backstops on the 40-man roster. 

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