Maton acquired from Tigers
Soto claimed off waivers to fill 40-man roster
ORLANDO, Fla. — With one week remaining before pitchers and catchers report for spring training, the Orioles added a new name to their 40-man roster Wednesday when they acquired utility player Nick Maton from the Detroit Tigers for cash.
Maton, 26, was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Monday after a 2023 campaign in which the left-handed hitter slashed .173/.288/.305 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 93 games. The 2017 seventh-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies has logged starts all over the diamond during his threeyear MLB career, including at shortstop, second base, third base and the outfield.
Maton, who batted .293/.414/.457 in 38 games at Triple-A Toledo last season, will face an uphill battle cracking the opening day roster with Baltimore boasting strong depth in both the infield and the outfield. He remains out of options and would be subject to waivers if the Orioles wanted him to begin the season in Triple-A Norfolk.
Maton, who made Philadelphia’s World Series roster in 2022, is the second infielder the Orioles have acquired from the Tigers in a matter of weeks after they landed Tyler Nevin in a similar deal Jan. 22.
Nevin, who spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Baltimore, was also designated for assignment by Detroit before being scooped up by the Orioles in a cash trade.
Orioles claim infielder Soto: The Orioles claimed infielder Livan Soto off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, filling their 40-man roster.
A 23-year-old Venezuela native who originally signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2016, Soto made his major league debut in 2022 with the Angels and has slashed .375/.414/.531 in 22 big league games. He appeared in four games with Los Angeles last season, playing shortstop and second base, and is considered a strong defender.
Soto, who was designated for assignment Saturday, has two minor league options remaining. He slashed .237/.342/.358 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs across 477 plate appearances in the minors last season, spending time at both Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake.