Orioles sign veteran infielder-outfielder Tony Kemp

Field Level Media|published: Tue 26th March, 16:38 2024

Sep 22, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics left fielder Tony Kemp (5) walks off an injury during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. credits: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran second baseman and outfielder Tony Kemp on Tuesday to a major league contract.

Terms were not disclosed, but the deal is worth $1 million, MLB.com reported.

In a corresponding move, the Orioles designated infielder Nick Maton for assignment. Maton, 27, went 0-for-23 this spring and was told Sunday he was not making the team.

Kemp, 32, was released by the Cincinnati Reds on March 19 and opted out of his minor league contract with the team. He batted .333 in 21 at-bats over eight games this spring with the Reds, who had signed him as a free agent in February.

The left-handed-hitting Kemp had spent the past four seasons with the Oakland Athletics and batted .209 with five home runs and 27 RBIs in 359 at-bats over 124 games in 2023.

The Houston Astros selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt, and he played for Houston from 2016-19 before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2019. The Cubs sent him to the A's in January 2020.

Kemp has a .238 career batting average with 35 homers, 184 RBIs, .325 on-base percentage and 53 stolen bases in 69 attempts.

—Field Level Media