Baltimore Orioles Agree to Minor League Contract With Intriguing Outfielder

The Baltimore Orioles have added another depth piece to their farm system after agreeing to terms with an outfielder prospect.

The Baltimore Orioles have made another move this offseason, but it wasn't at the position they have been targeting.

Right now, it seems like the dream of them adding an ace to their staff will not happen before 2024 Opening Day arrives.

There's still time for the front office to get something done, but things are looking bleak.

However, the Orioles are still making moves and they added an intriguing outfielder to their farm system, bolstering more depth in the already loaded pipeline.

Roch Kubatko of MASN reported they agreed to a minor league contract with Daniel Johnson.

He was a fifth round pick of the Washington Nationals in the 2016 MLB Draft. Projections had him becoming an everyday outfielder at some point in his career with the ability to hit double-digit home runs.

Johnson flashed his hitting potential right away, slashing .298/.356/.505 with 22 home runs and 72 RBI across two levels in 2017, followed by slashing .269/.327/.412 with seven homers and 35 runs batted in during 2018.

He was moved to Cleveland in November 2019 and eventually made his Major League debut in 2020. The outfielder struggled mightily, getting only one hit across 12 at-bats. He appeared in 30 games during the 2021 season and slashed .221/.259/.377 with four homers and five RBI.

However, they traded him to the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations in May 2022.

Johnson has not appeared in another Major League game since 2021 with Cleveland, but he had a bounce back year within the San Diego Padres' organization last season, slashing .271/.348/.469 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI across their Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.

Now, the 28-year-old will join Baltimore's developmental system with the opportunity to get his career back on track.

It's unlikely he breaks through to their Major League roster because of all the talented prospects slated to appear before him, but this provides another depth piece in case of emergency.