Orioles Sign Infielder Franklin Barreto to Minor League Deal

The Baltimore Orioles have announced the signing of infielder Franklin Barreto to a minor league contract. It remains unclear whether the deal includes an invitation to big league Spring Training next year.

Barreto's Early Career and Rise in Prospect Ranks
Barreto, 28, began his professional career with the Toronto Blue Jays, signing as an amateur out of Venezuela and making his pro debut in 2013. He quickly ascended the prospect rankings and was a consensus top-100 prospect by the time the Blue Jays traded him to the Oakland Athletics in the Josh Donaldson trade in 2015. Barreto maintained his top-100 prospect status for several years despite a decline in his offensive numbers upon reaching the upper minors.

Performance in the Minors
In 2016, Barreto posted a solid .281/.340/.413 slash line at the Double-A level, earning a promotion to Triple-A. However, his performance at Triple-A in 2017 did not meet expectations, with a .290/.339/.456 line that was only slightly above league average. His high strikeout rate and reliance on an unsustainable batting average on balls in play (BABIP) raised concerns about his ability to succeed at the major league level.

Major League Struggles
Barreto made his major league debut with the Athletics in 2017, but struggled with a .197/.250/.352 line and a 43.4% strikeout rate in 76 plate appearances. In 2018, he showed some improvement, hitting .233/.253/.493 in 75 plate appearances, though his high strikeout rate and low walk rate indicated ongoing issues with plate discipline.

Subsequent Moves and Current Status
Barreto's struggles continued over the next two years, leading to his trade to the Los Angeles Angels in 2020. His brief stint with the Angels was similarly unproductive, with a .118/.167/.118 line in 18 plate appearances. Since then, Barreto has spent time with the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals organizations on minor league deals before playing for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican League earlier this year.

​As Barreto joins the Orioles, he brings experience and a versatile infield option, looking to reignite his career and potentially make an impact at the major league level.