The Baltimore Orioles Collection of Middle Infielders

Apr 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Steve Tolleson (18) dives but cannot reach a ball hit for a single by Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (not pictured) in the seventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

It was announced this week that Steve Tolleson and Osvaldo Martinez have both been signed to minor league contracts with the Baltimore Orioles.

Tolleson is another of that sort of player who spends much of his career on the fringes of MLB and AAA. Orioles fans will remember a brief stay with the Birds in 2012, where he batted .183 in 29 games. A former 5^th-round selection of the Twins a decade ago, he has also made it to the big show in 2010 with the A’s and over the past two years with the Jays.

In Toronto, Tolleson did hit .256 over 128 games. That is certainly better than what the Orioles have gotten from Flaherty. But there were only three home runs in that time. His AAA numbers would seem to indicate that he should have at least some moderate success at the highest level, posting a .283 average and .366 OBP.

Ozzie Martinez is re-signed after a good 2015 campaign in Bowie. There he hit .252 in 122 games, while displaying very good defense at shortstop. The 25-year-old was an 11^th-round pick of the Marlins nine years ago, making it to the Big Leagues with them for a total of 34 games in 2010 and 2011. There he hit .258, about the same as his career minor league average of .257.

Martinez is not a very big guy at 5-10, 200; and he does not hit for much power. He is truly a utilityman, able to play second and third as well.

Here is a chart of the comparative numbers of Tolleson and Martinez at both the MLB and AAA levels …

You have to say that Tolleson looks like a decent utilityman, and besides that, Showalter likes him! “You’re smart enough, you’re good enough, and dog-gone it, the Orioles like you!”

Next: Is there a future for Rey Navarro?