The Orioles didn’t protect any eligible players in next month’s Rule 5 draft by today’s 6 p.m. deadline. The announcement was made a few minutes ago.
Their 40-man roster holds at 36 players after infielder Terrin Vavra and left-hander Tucker Davidson cleared outright waivers this afternoon and were assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
The deadline is Friday to tender contracts to players who are eligible for arbitration. The Orioles have 17 pending, which could create more openings.
Among the minor leaguers left unprotected today are outfielder Hudson Haskin, catcher Maverick Handley and pitchers Ryan Watson, Jean Pinto, Garrett Stallings, Kyle Brnovich, Zach Peek and Trey McGough. Watson was the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and McGough made this year’s Arizona Fall League Fall Stars team.
MLB Pipeline ranks Haskin as the No. 17 prospect in the system, the only player in the top 30 eligible to be drafted. He seemed the most likely to be added to the 40-man.