The Colorado Rockies added another arm to their pitching staff on Tuesday, claiming right-hander Roansy Contreras off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. The move comes as the Rockies continue searching for solutions to one of Major League Baseball’s weakest pitching groups in 2025.

Contreras, 25, has taken a winding path through the majors in recent seasons. Originally signed by the New York Yankees in 2016, he was later traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of the Jameson Taillon deal in 2021. He showed flashes of promise in Pittsburgh, but inconsistency and command issues eventually pushed him to the fringe of the roster.

This season, Contreras spent most of his time with Triple-A Norfolk, where he logged a 3.73 ERA across 91 2/3 innings split between 14 starts and 14 relief appearances. While his strikeout rate dipped to just 17.8 percent, he limited damage with average control and a solid ground-ball profile.

He also made one brief appearance with Baltimore’s major league club, delivering 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a long-relief outing earlier this summer.

Across parts of four big league seasons, Contreras owns a 4.63 ERA in 239 innings, with a 19.6 percent strikeout rate, 10 percent walk rate, and a 39.3 percent ground-ball rate.

The Rockies’ struggles on the mound this season have been well-documented. Colorado’s team ERA of 6.01 is by far the worst in baseball, nearly a full run higher than the next team. Injuries, underperformance, and a revolving door of starters have forced the front office to explore every possible avenue for pitching help.

Contreras represents a low-risk, potentially useful addition. With just over two years of MLB service time, the Rockies can control him for up to four more seasons if he sticks. His ability to work both as a starter and a reliever adds a layer of flexibility. However, Contreras is out of minor league options, meaning the Rockies must carry him on their 26-man roster.

With just a few weeks left in the 2025 regular season, Contreras is likely to get an immediate look in the majors. Whether as a spot starter or in a long-relief role, he should have chances to audition for a role heading into 2026.

For a Rockies team in the middle of a 100-loss campaign, small victories like uncovering a serviceable arm are part of the bigger picture. Contreras now gets the chance to prove he can be one of them.