The Orioles removed infielder Bryan Ramos from their 40-man roster, losing him to the Cardinals yesterday on a waiver claim. They have an open spot with spring training report dates around the corner.
Ramos was acquired from the White Sox on Sunday night for cash considerations, but he got caught in the roster churn. So much for the idea that he could compete for a utility job.
Blaze Alexander might have killed any notion of an actual competition after the Orioles traded for him Thursday afternoon.
Infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson, who was designated for assignment to make room for Ramos, cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
To everything, churn, churn, churn. There is a season, churn, churn, churn.
Keeping track of these moves is for the birds.
(Quick story to make it about me: I was seconds away from putting my granddaughter to bed for her sleepover, a process with a 5-year-old that requires multiple steps, including the alphabet game to make her more sleepy, when the Orioles announced the Ramos trade. I had to walk back out to the living room while she insisted on waiting up for me, turn on the laptop and throw together a short story. Less than a week later, he’s out of the organization.)
Ramos became less valuable to the Orioles with Alexander’s arrival. Alexander might not destroy baseballs but he’s shattering the early roster mocks.
This club has gone from being unable to carry a utility player to apparently having a plan for one. We’re going to find out much more next week in Sarasota.
Is there an undisclosed injury that enables Alexander to fit? Is that just the usual paranoia?
The Orioles are expected to carry 13 position players and I’m counting 14:
Catchers
Adley Rutschman
Samuel Basallo
Infielders
Pete Alonso
Gunnar Henderson
Jackson Holliday
Jordan Westburg
Ryan Mountcastle
Coby Mayo
Blaze Alexander
Outfielders
Taylor Ward
Colton Cowser
Tyler O’Neill
Dylan Beavers
Leody Taveras
Another reminder that Alexander and Taveras, who signed a $2 million contract, are out of minor league options.
It seems highly unlikely that the Orioles would surrender reliever Kade Strowd and minor leaguers Wellington Aracena and José Mejía to acquire Alexander and then risk losing him to a waiver claim. He’s made the mocks.
So you tell me how this is gonna work.
You’ll notice that Jeremiah Jackson is missing. He can be optioned and figures to see some major league action at some point over the summer. The Orioles used 70 players last year to set a franchise record.
I knew pioneer women who did less churning.
Outfielder Heston Kjerstad is expected to be ready for a full spring training after last summer’s shutdown, but he’d probably need an injury or trade to break camp with the team. And there’s no way that the Orioles can carry three catchers in their current state.
I had Taveras, Dylan Beavers, Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo on the bench for a national publication with a December deadline. It hinged on Tyler O’Neill playing right field and Samuel Basallo serving as designated hitter.
Strowd was in my bullpen with Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge, Yennier Cano, Tyler Wells, Albert Suárez, Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns. He posted a 1.71 ERA in 25 appearances as a rookie and allowed two earned runs with 15 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings in September.
Rico Garcia was in my ‘pen until the Orioles re-signed Zach Eflin and I bumped Tyler Wells from the rotation. Garcia can replace Strowd, though the Orioles have plenty of other right-handers, including Colin Selby, José Espada, Yaramil Hiraldo, Anthony Nunez, Chayce McDermott and Cameron Foster. They also could consider Brandon Young, though he’s more likely to start in Triple-A.
I’m still anticipating at least one more bullpen move from executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias.
The rotation isn’t complete, but Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz and Dean Kremer are mock locks, and Eflin joins them if he’s ready after undergoing August back surgery. Another addition, whether Zac Gallen or a veteran tabbed for the back end, creates a possible excess depending on Eflin. And we haven’t mentioned left-hander Cade Povich, who also might wind up in Norfolk’s rotation.
So you tell me how this is gonna work.