Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Friday that he would remain “nimble” to potentially make additions to the club’s roster in the days between spring training’s end and opening day Thursday.
He did just that Tuesday by signing veteran second baseman-left fielder Tony Kemp to a major league contract, the team announced. The deal is worth $1 million, according to a source with direct knowledge of the deal.
Kemp does not have a minor league option, making it likely he is on the Orioles’ opening day roster.
Kemp, 32, is an eight-year veteran with experience at several positions, mainly second base and left field. He’s spent the past three years as a regular with the lowly Oakland Athletics, breaking out in 2021 with an .800 OPS before deteriorating at the plate and posting a .607 OPS last season.
For the past few years, the Orioles have coveted left-handed hitting second basemen, including Rougned Odor in 2022 and Adam Frazier last season. The Orioles had veteran Kolten Wong and top prospect Jackson Holliday — both left-handed hitters — in camp, but they went outside the organization to get Kemp instead.
After Colton Cowser said he was told by the club’s brass that he made the team, it meant just one bench spot was left to fill. It appeared likely to be Tyler Nevin, a right-handed hitter who could match up well with the Orioles facing several left-handers early in the season. Nevin is also without a minor league option.
Holliday’s inexperience against quality left-handed pitching was one of the reasons Elias listed to justify starting the top prospect in Triple-A while also saying the 20-year-old’s service time was not a factor. Kemp has a career .689 OPS versus southpaws.
To make room for Kemp on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated utilityman Nick Maton for assignment. Maton, who was not expected to make the team, went 0-for-23 this spring after joining the organization in a cash trade.
Kemp was selected by Houston in the fifth round of the 2013 draft when Elias was the Astros’ scouting director. He debuted with the Astros in 2016, spending parts of four seasons with them before a short stint with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. He played with the Athletics for the past four years.
Kemp broke out in 2021 with a stellar season — a .279/.382/.418 slash line and 3.4 wins above replacement, according to Baseball-Reference. He hit just .209 last year, but he walked more than he struck out and stole a career-high 15 bases.
Elias has a track record of success with moves between the end of spring training and opening day. Last year, he acquired Danny Coulombe in a cash trade, and the veteran was one of the sport’s best left-handed relievers in 2023.
The Orioles don’t have to announce their opening day roster until Thursday morning. They host the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards at 3:05 p.m.
