Orioles sign former Oakland A's top-100 prospect to minor-league contract

The Baltimore Orioles continue to leave no stone unturned in their search for talent this offseason as it has been announced by the Diablos Rojos of the Mexican League that the Orioles have signed infielder Franklin Barreto to a free agent deal.

Barreto isn't the first Orioles signing this winter to come out of pro ball in Mexico, having already inked pitchers Yaramil Hiraldo and Rodolfo Martinez to minor league deals, as well as former Virginia Commonwealth University and Oakland A's infielder Vimael Machin.

Like the previously mentioned trio, Barreto spent 2024 playing professionally in Mexico for the Diablos Rojos, where hit .343 with an OPS of 1.006, 16 home runs, and 19 doubles in 76 games.

Barreto is an intriguing signing due to his noted background. Originally signed as an international free agent in 2013 by the Toronto Blue Jays out of Venezuela, Barreto was soon traded to Oakland as part of a package for infielder Josh Donaldson. He would eventually become the top-ranked prospect in the A's organization.

Orioles ink former top-100 prospect to minor league contract

Heralded by at least one scout as an "Altuve-type player", Barreto's elite prospect status never translated to major league success while with Oakland. From 2017-2020, he would appear in 95 games with the A's big league squad, hitting just .180 with a .570 OPS, 9 home runs, and a rough 92-7 K-BB ratio.

In August 2020, the Oakland A's would trade Barreto to the Los Angeles Angels for infielder Tommy La Stella. He played in just six games while racking up a whopping two hits over that span.

Barreto tried to catch on with the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals as recently as 2023, but he was never able to replicate the home run totals and high-level production that seemed to come much more easily in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast, California, and Texas Leagues as he worked his way through the minors with the A's.

Now 28, Barreto will get another opportunity to get back to the big leagues in 2025, this time with the Baltimore Orioles. Having recently lost Triple-A veterans like Terrin Vavra, Garrett Cooper, J.D. Davis, Niko Goodrum, and others, the Orioles have used the early weeks of the offseason to bring in veterans who can hopefully be valuable Triple-A depth for the organization.

While the Orioles found success in bringing in RHP Albert Suarez from overseas, the odds of a team hitting on that kind of success are rare, so it is surprising to see them really lean into this particular avenue to acquire depth.

What exactly do the Orioles likely see in Franklin Barreto to give him an opportunity? The Orioles value positional versatility and Barreto checks that box. In his last stint in the States while with the Nationals, Barreto saw time at first base, shortstop, third base, and in all three outfield spots. He's also logged 200 games at second base throughout his career. And while he has a propensity to strike out at a high clip, there is some pop in the bat that could be tapped into.

He may not have lived up to the hype at this point in his career, but bringing in Barreto on what is likely a minor league deal is a no-risk move early in the offseason to fill a need.