Orioles Finalizing Deal with Infielder Maikel Franco

Maikel Franco will reportedly be joining the Orioles in 2021

On Sunday, MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman confirmed that the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a deal with veteran infielder Maikel Franco. Details such as the length or value of the contract have not been announced yet. However, Heyman reported on Monday that the deal would be a Major League contract.

With Opening Day just over two weeks away, Franco was seemingly the best position player on the free-agent market. The Orioles were in need of a corner infielder with Renato Nunez being designated for assignment by Baltimore in November, and Franco fills that role perfectly. Franco will likely take the starting third baseman job from Rio Ruiz, who RosterResource currently projects in that role, once the deal is made official.

Heyman linked the Orioles to Franco in a report earlier in the week, connecting the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves to Franco’s market as well.

Last season, Franco played in all 60 games of the pandemic-shortened regular season for the Kansas City Royals, slashing .278/.321/.457 with a wRC+ of 106. Franco has played seven seasons in the Major Leagues. The six seasons prior to last year were with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he posted 3.5 fWAR in 656 games.

The Orioles’ current shortstop, Freddy Galvis, has previously experienced sharing the left side of the infield with Franco. For four seasons, Galvis and Franco played together in Philadelphia. The two combined for 106 home runs in that span.

With Franco, the Orioles are poised to go with an infield of Ryan Mountcastle at first base, Yolmer Sánchez at second base, Freddy Galvis at shortstop, and Maikel Franco at third base on Opening Day, which could boast some respectable numbers throughout the 2021 season.