The Orioles announced to reporters, including Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, that catcher Chadwick Tromp has been re-signed to a minor league deal. He is with the club in Seattle and on the taxi squad.
Tromp, 30, was on the O’s roster for a few days recently. Adley Rutschman got a concussion scare, so the O’s added Tromp in order to have another backstop on the roster alongside Maverick Handley. Rutschman felt better a few days later, which led to the out-of-options Tromp being designated for assignment. He went hitless in four plate appearances during that brief stint as an Oriole. He elected free agency just a few hours ago but he and the club have worked out a new pact.
There hasn’t been anything to suggest that there’s anything currently wrong with Rutschman or Handley, so it’s possible Tromp is just around on the taxi squad for logistical reasons. The Orioles are in Seattle for three games and then play three against the Athletics in West Sacramento. The Triple-A Norfolk Tides are in Louisville, Kentucky this week, so it would take some time to get a fresh body to the West Coast if an injury did pop up. Tromp’s presence gives them someone on hand who can be added to the roster on short notice.
The O’s go back home next week after facing the A’s, at which point Tromp could perhaps join the Tides. He hasn’t hit much in his big league career, with a .219/.229/.375 line in part-time play over six seasons, but he has a solid defensive reputation and better offense in the minors. He has a combined .256/.337/.427 line and 102 wRC+ in 872 Triple-A plate appearances dating back to the start of the 2022 season.
Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Images.