The Orioles are bringing back a familiar face, re-signing right-hander Albert Suárez to a minor league deal as they continue to build out their pitching depth ahead of the 2026 season.

Suárez, now 36, is no stranger to the Orioles’ clubhouse. After spending several years overseas in Japan and South Korea, he returned to the big leagues with Baltimore in 2024-and made the most of his second act.

That year, he stepped into a swingman role and delivered 133 2/3 innings with a solid 3.70 ERA. Whether he was starting or coming out of the bullpen, Suárez gave the O’s exactly what every contender needs: a reliable arm who can bridge the gap when the rotation gets stretched thin.

But 2025 told a different story. Just one appearance into the season, Suárez landed on the injured list with a subscapularis strain in his throwing shoulder.

He worked his way back and returned in September, only to be sidelined again with right elbow discomfort. The diagnosis was a mild flexor strain-not ideal, but the silver lining was that surgery wasn’t necessary.

Still, the injuries limited him to just a handful of appearances, and the Orioles had to make a tough call.

With Suárez crossing the three-year service time threshold in 2025, he became arbitration-eligible. The projection?

A modest $900K salary-barely above the league minimum. But given the uncertainty around his health, Baltimore chose not to tender him a contract, making him a free agent.

That move allowed the club to re-sign him on a minor league deal without exposing him to waivers-a savvy bit of roster management that keeps Suárez in the fold without committing a 40-man spot.

Now, the focus shifts to spring training. If Suárez is healthy, he’ll have a chance to earn his way back into the mix.

Baltimore’s current rotation features a blend of young arms and emerging talent-Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich, Tyler Wells, Chayce McDermott, and Brandon Young are all in the conversation. And with the front office likely to add more pitching before Opening Day, competition will be fierce.

But let’s be clear: depth is everything over a 162-game grind. Injuries happen, roles evolve, and having a veteran like Suárez waiting in the wings could prove invaluable. Whether it’s a spot start in June or a long-relief outing in August, he’s the kind of steady presence that helps teams weather the inevitable ups and downs of a season.

For now, it’s a low-risk move that keeps a trusted arm in the organization. And if Suárez can recapture even a bit of his 2024 form, the Orioles just might have another key piece ready to step up when it matters most.