Baltimore Orioles Sign Veteran Utilityman, Release Shortstop

The Baltimore Orioles signed a veteran infielder and outfielder to add depth and speed to their bench.

Sep 22, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics left fielder Tony Kemp (5) walks off an / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles added some veteran savvy to their roster on Tuesday, as they signed veteran infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp to a one-year deal, per the MLB Transactions page.

Multiple reports have his salary at $1 million. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated infielder Nick Maton for assignment.

Kemp was with the Oakland Athletics from 2020-23, and before that he had stints with the Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros.

After he hit free agency he signed with the Cincinnati Reds last month but was released last week.

The Orioles are getting a player that has position flexibility, with the majority of his MLB experience coming at second base and left field. He’ll give a young Orioles team a veteran presence, one that has played in 734 career games.

He’s a lifetime .238 hitter with 35 home runs and 184 RBI. While not a power hitter, he was one of Oakland’s better players, despite a batting average last season of .209. He had at least 13 doubles for the third straight season and stole 15 bases, a career high.

The Orioles have listed Kemp second on the depth chart at second base behind Jordan Westburg and third on the depth chart at left field behind both Austin Hays and Colton Cowser.

Maton could play second base, shortstop and third base. He was with Detroit last season, where he played in 93 games, batted .173 and hit eight home runs with 32 RBI. Before that, he spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he played in 86 games and batted .254 with seven home runs and 31 RBI.

The Orioles acquired Maton in a trade with Detroit in February for cash considerations. The Orioles had already optioned Maton to Triple-A Norfolk.