The Orioles have signed first baseman Garrett Cooper to a minor league contract, per Craig Mish of SportsGrid (X link). Cooper is set to join Triple-A Norfolk as he awaits another chance in the majors.
Cooper, who is now with his third organization this season, began the year with the Cubs on a minor league deal and made the opening roster. He posted a solid .270/.341/.432 batting line but struggled with strikeouts, prompting the Cubs to designate him for assignment. He was then traded to the Red Sox for cash considerations.
However, Cooper’s struggles continued in Boston, where he hit just .171/.227/.229 before being designated for assignment and subsequently released a few weeks ago. Despite interest from the Yankees, who were seeking a replacement for the injured Anthony Rizzo, they acquired J.D. Davis from the A’s instead.
In Baltimore, Cooper faces tough competition with a deep lineup. Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle have first base and designated hitter positions locked down, while Anthony Santander, Colton Cowser, Austin Hays, and Heston Kjerstad are prominent outfield options. Cooper may need an injury opportunity to crack the Orioles’ roster.
Nonetheless, the minor league deal provides Cooper a chance to regain his form against Triple-A pitching. He has struggled offensively recently, particularly with increased strikeouts, resulting in a .242/.297/.395 batting line since the start of the 2023 season. Prior to that, from 2019 to 2022, Cooper was a productive middle-of-the-order hitter for the Marlins, batting .274/.350/.444 during that span.
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