Orioles unsure about second player for expanded roster after Suárez

SAN FRANCISCO – The Orioles may go in a different direction to expand their roster on Monday.

Albert Suárez is confirmed and will join the bullpen, but infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo might have to wait a little longer.

Mateo had three hits yesterday and is 8-for-28 with Triple-A Norfolk since restarting his assignment on Aug. 20.

“Jorgie, we’re still kind of checking boxes on the rehab assignment,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “I think if Jorgie’s feeling great and good, in theory he’d be the guy on the position player side, but I’m not so sure it’s gonna go that way. It may take a couple more days.”

Mateo hasn’t played for the Orioles since June 6 due to left elbow inflammation following an outfield collision with Heston Kjerstad and a left hamstring strain suffered during his first rehab assignment. The Orioles hold a $5.5 million option on his contract for 2026.

The Orioles could make a temporary position player move on Monday while keeping Mateo with Norfolk. Infielder Ryan Noda is on the 40-man roster, which currently holds 39 players. Suárez, Mateo and Tyler Wells must be reinstated from the 60-day injured list and put on the 40-man.

Wells will start Tuesday night for the first time since April 12, 2024 against the Brewers. He underwent elbow reconstructive surgery two months later.

“It’s a big-time strike-thrower,” Mansolino said. “He’s got a great changeup. Right, left, it doesn’t really matter. He’s got a neutrality to him. Competitive, tough angle with the fastball. Was quietly a really good starting pitcher in Major League Baseball prior to the injury. He’s a guy we’re excited to have back obviously on the mound.

“You talk about in the clubhouse, it’s a guy that is in the mix. Everybody gives him a hard time. He’s kind of the guy that you mess around with and kind of helps glue the clubhouse together in a lot of ways. So definitely looking forward to seeing him in San Diego.”

The Orioles are listing Tuesday as TBA but it’s Wells’ game. The Padres are TBA across the board.

“I think that’s probably a good thing to bet on right there,” Mansolino said.

Facing the Padres will allow the Orioles to reunite with former teammates Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano.

O’Hearn is batting .260/.348/.416 with three doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs in 25 games, and Laureano is batting .307/.358/.594 with four doubles, two triples, seven homers and 23 RBIs in 27 games since the Orioles packaged them in a deadline trade.

Two productive players and highly respected veterans walked out the door.

“Love them both,” Mansolino said.

“Start with Ryan because we had him so much longer, a guy that came to the Orioles and rejuvenated his career. A lot of coaches are tied to him because of that. We love the man. He helped this team get in the playoffs a couple years and was a leader in the clubhouse, and just a guy that is just so loved and well liked amongst the Americans, the Latins, the old guys, the young guys in the clubhouse. Just universally liked.

“Laureano, same kind of deal. It’s unusual to see a Latin player come in and lead a bunch of American players, and Laureano did that. And I don’t think people realize that about him. He’s a little different, he’s a little quirky in a lot of ways, but all of our young players out here, our American guys, they loved Ramón. He was just so different, his leadership style and how he did things, but guys gravitated toward him. And obviously, he put up All-Star caliber numbers while he was with us for the short time that we had him.

“Gonna miss him dearly, excited that he’s in the situation that he’s in. And definitely excited to see both guys tomorrow.”