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The Orioles aren’t gaining sufficient ground in the standings but their roster is healthier.
Infielder Jordan Westburg and outfielder Cedric Mullins were reinstated from the 10-day injured list earlier today. But it cost Heston Kjerstad a roster spot. He was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. And it cost Emmanuel Rivera a place in the organization after he was designated again for assignment.
Westburg hasn’t played in the majors since straining his left hamstring in Game 2 of an April 26 doubleheader in Detroit.
Westburg was 9-for-29 in his last seven games. He’s batting .217/.265/.391 with two doubles, a triple, four home runs and six RBIs in 23 games.
Westburg appeared in eight games with Norfolk on his injury rehab assignment and went 11-for-28 with four doubles and two homers.
BOSTON – The Orioles had a game postponed yesterday for the fifth time this season, setting up the third of their four scheduled doubleheaders.
Life keeps getting harder for them.
They give up 13 runs in the eighth inning of Game 1, forced again to use a position player to pitch, and the tarp goes on the field less than two hours before Game 2's start time. It begins to rain, as if on cue. They’re stuck in a cramped clubhouse at “America’s most beloved ballpark,” which is a kind way of saying it’s old.
They never posted a lineup, unlike the Red Sox, who either held more confidence in the rain halting or just did it for practice. A starter wasn’t confirmed until last night, when the club announced Zach Eflin for Game 1 and TBA for Game 2. Trevor Rogers finally could get the ball as the 27th man, but Charlie Morton also is a possibility.
The season hasn’t gotten past May and the Orioles have allowed 19-plus runs twice this season. Emmanuel Rivera became the 26th player to pitch for them with his emergency appearance in Game 1, and Rogers could be the 27th - seven fewer than last year’s total. The group includes two infielders and a backup catcher.
The Orioles are down to nine players on the injured list, including outfielder Colton Cowser and pitchers Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Albert Suárez and Tyler Wells on the 60-day. This is the healthiest they’ve looked in a long time.
Infielder Ramón Urías was the latest player to escape it yesterday, and he did so without going on a rehab assignment. He can get a bundle of starts at third base and also sub at second if needed. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill and pitcher Zach Eflin were reinstated with the team in Anaheim. Pitcher Chayce McDermott was reinstated and optioned on May 4, and the Orioles used him yesterday as the 27th man to start Game 2 before returning him to Triple-A Norfolk.
“It’s great for us,” Urías said. “It’s just what we need now, a full team together. We’re just ready to win some games.”
Reliever Andrew Kittredge is nearing his return, but a few more boxes need to be checked. He’s made four rehab appearances since undergoing surgery in March to repair cartilage in his left knee, and a fifth is coming over the weekend.
“All good news with how he’s throwing the baseball and how he feels,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “I think he throws again this weekend and then he’ll do a back-to-back and maybe another one. We’ll see how it goes.”
While other players string together hits or prevent runs from scoring in consecutive games, Orioles infielder Emmanuel Rivera might become known more for his stubborn streak.
Rivera is a waiver claim in August, dumped by the lowly Marlins, and bats .313 with a .948 OPS in 27 games with the Orioles. Eight of his 20 hits went for extra bases, including four home runs.
The Orioles avoid a possible arbitration hearing by signing Rivera to a $1 million contract on Nov. 22 and designate him for assignment on Jan. 31. He clears waivers, accepts an outright assignment on Feb. 10 and injures his left shoulder in camp.
Any chance to make the team, however slim, is ruined. But Rivera can’t be deterred and the Orioles are rewarded again for having him in the organization. His contract is selected on April 28 with Jordan Westburg going on the injured list, and he just keeps on hitting.
Rivera went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in Friday night’s series opener in Anaheim to make him 8-for-19 in six games, and he started again last night, going 1-for-4. The Orioles also like his play at third base. “The Octopus” brings a lot to the table.
MINNEAPOLIS – The absence of an opposing left-handed starter in the Twins series could allow manager Brandon Hyde to do less juggling with his lineup. Jackson Holliday might stay at second base. Heston Kjerstad might stay in left or right field. Ryan O’Hearn could keep getting starts as the designated hitter or at first base.
Matchups don’t factor much at third base. Hyde can play a hunch or the No. 2 prospect in the system
Coby Mayo started last night over Emmanuel Rivera – both right-handed hitters with pop who provide options while Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías are on the injured list. And that’s the only time that “options” is used with Rivera, who’s out of them.
Mayo is 0-for-8 since the Orioles recalled him over the weekend, including a called third strike last night on a ball out of the zone. He also struck out swinging twice to complete his 0-for-3 night. Rivera is 2-for-8 with a home run after slashing .313/.370/.578 last year in 27 games.
“Just going to kind of play it a little bit by ear and give Mayo a little bit of an opportunity,” Hyde said after Sunday’s loss to the Royals. “He came in late (Saturday) night, that’s why he didn’t play. But kind of pick my matchup a little bit until we get Urías and Westy back.”
Gary Sánchez had a soft brace covering his right wrist and hand this afternoon and no clue when he’d be able to ditch it and start playing again.
The Orioles put Sánchez on the 10-day injured list yesterday with inflammation in the wrist caused by a stress reaction.
“It’s been bothering me a little bit for a few weeks now,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Some days it’s doing good and then some days it’s not as well, so I thought it was the best decision to put a stop to it right now and get some rest and recover rather than continue to push through it. I think as I was trying to push through, I wasn’t helping the team as it was, so I think it’s better to get some rest right now, recover and come back ready to go.”
Sánchez is 3-for-30 with four RBIs and 12 strikeouts with the Orioles after signing for $8.5 million. The injury was impacting his at-bats.
“I think at the point of contact in my swing is when I started to feel the discomfort,” he said. “Not necessarily throwing or anything like that, but just with my swing. I really do think that was affecting me.”
The Orioles are chipping away at their camp roster. They've gotten it down to 36 players.
Veteran starter Kyle Gibson was optioned today to minor league camp after the Orioles signed him last week to a one-year deal. He was staying back in Sarasota, and manager Brandon Hyde told the media in D.C. that the ramp-up hopefully will have Gibson ready around May 1.
Catcher Maverick Handley and infielders Vimael Machín, Emmanuel Rivera and Luis Vázquez were reassigned to minor league camp.
None of these moves are unexpected. The Orioles are set behind the plate with Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez, who stayed healthy through camp. Livan Soto appeared to have an edge in the battle to replace injured shortstop Gunnar Henderson unless Jorge Mateo is deemed ready to play on Opening Day.
Mateo remains in Sarasota and is receiving heavy doses of at-bats over the next two days before a decision is made on his availability. He could join the team in Toronto or remain at the complex.
SARASOTA, Fla. – Gunnar Henderson remains out of the lineup tonight against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium. He’s taking live batting practice Saturday against pitchers on one of the back fields.
Henderson hasn’t played since Feb. 27 and seems unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but the Orioles are keeping the door cracked.
Grayson Rodriguez played catch again today and “it went well,” according to manager Brandon Hyde.
Emmanuel Rivera remains out due to a sore left shoulder. Chayce McDermott will have a light bullpen session on Saturday. Trevor Rogers is playing catch but is "a long way away," Hyde said.
Closer Félix Bautista is pitching tonight in the last home exhibition game.
SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles made more roster cuts heading into their second off-day of the spring, getting down to 41 players. Six of them are non-roster invitees
None of the players in that latter group were expected to break camp with the team. Catcher Samuel Basallo is a high-profile prospect, tops in the organization, who had no chance at age 20 and with only 86 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. But he was fun while he lasted.
Who’s left?
Reliever Matt Bowman
The Orioles re-signed Bowman to a minor league contract on Dec. 23 after he declined an outright assignment a month earlier and elected free agency. He pitched for four teams last season. For a brief time he had none.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Orioles are keeping their everyday players back in Sarasota today for a morning workout and a break, with backups and minor leaguers facing the Red Sox at JetBlue Park.
Samuel Basallo is playing first base and Coby Mayo is at third. Gary Sáchez is catching.
Dylan Beavers is in left field and Enrique Bradfield Jr. is in center.
Ramón Urías (left hamstring) and Emmanuel Rivera (left shoulder) remain out of the lineup. Urías hasn’t played since Wednesday and Rivera since Thursday, but their returns are coming soon.
Right-hander Roansy Contreras is starting for the Orioles. He’s made four relief appearances and allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He’s also surrendered three home runs.
SARASOTA, Fla. – The long wait is over for Jorge Mateo. He gets to appear in his first game today since injuring his left elbow on July 23 and undergoing reconstructive surgery a month later.
The Orioles haven’t sounded as optimistic as Mateo about his availability for Opening Day. Today’s start at shortstop could be an indication that he remains in play or that he’ll be able to leave the injured list when he’s eligible.
“Jorgie was a big loss for us last year,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He adds so much to our team – versatility, the speed. I love his energy he brings on a daily basis. We missed that last year.
“This is his first step back, a big step back in his rehab, to get a little game action.”
Mateo will rest Monday rather than make the trip to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. The Orioles wrap up the Grapefruit League schedule March 23 in North Port.
The 26 players announced as non-roster invitees to spring training weren’t on a locked list of names. The Orioles had the freedom to expand it, which they did after infielder Luis Vázquez cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Reliever Dylan Coleman announced his signing to a minor league deal on Instagram, the Orioles confirmed it and he’s an invite. Infielder Emmanuel Rivera cleared waivers, was outrighted and also received an invitation. And there could be more.
Here’s the updated list:
Pitchers
Raúl Alcantara
Justin Armbruester
Matt Bowman
Dylan Coleman
Jakob Hernandez
Yaramil Hiraldo
Corbin Martin
Robinson Martinez
Levi Stoudt
Carlos Tavera
Thaddeus Ward
Nathan Webb
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired infielder Luis Vázquez from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations.
Vázquez, 25, was 1-for-12 with two runs scored, one RBI, and a hit-by-pitch in 11 games with the Cubs last season. He made his MLB debut on May 22 vs. Atlanta. Vázquez slashed .263/.347/.432 (62-for-236) with 16 doubles, eight home runs, 33 runs scored, 24 RBI, 25 walks, six hit-by-pitches, and one stolen base in 64 games with Triple-A Iowa in 2024. The infielder appeared in 51 games at shortstop, seven at third base, and six at second base in Triple-A. He was originally selected by Chicago-NL in the 14th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Alberto Melendez Torres (PR) High School.
To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Emmanuel Rivera was designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.
The Orioles haven’t found their starting pitcher in Dallas and they aren’t done with the bullpen. The work continues today and through the offseason. The last day of the Winter Meetings isn’t a deadline to finish the roster.
Is there anything else to do with position players?
The club appears set barring a trade, though it’s Dec. 10 and a lot can happen. The 13 non-pitchers right now are easy to identify.
We know the catchers - Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez. We know that Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins, Heston Kjerstad and Tyler O’Neill are expected to be the four outfielders. And we know that it leaves room for seven infielders, which on paper read as Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo.
Top prospect Coby Mayo and Emmanuel Rivera, who signed a one-year contract for $1 million and is out of minor league options, appear to be on the outside. To get either one of them in the picture might require dealing an infielder.
Making the qualifying offer to Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander probably was the most predictable act performed by the Orioles since the playoffs. Tendering contracts to the top players on their arbitration list also could be seen from miles.
Like any offseason, there also have been a fair share of surprises. Here are a batch, in no particular order.
The return of Daz Cameron.
Cameron spent the 2023 season with Triple-A Norfolk, appearing in 110 games and batting .268/.346/.452 with 23 doubles, 16 home runs and 67 RBIs in 446 plate appearances. He didn’t make the club in spring training and didn’t have his contract selected.
That seemed to be the conclusion of a Cameron connection to the Orioles, who had selected him on waivers from the Tigers in November 2022. The son of three-time Gold Glove winner Mike Cameron signed with the Athletics a year later and hit .200 with a .587 OPS in 66 games. The Orioles acquired him for cash considerations on Oct. 31.
The Orioles set their coaching staff. They have a ways to go before they can say the same about their roster.
Pitchers and catchers report in February – it’s usually somewhere in the second week – and more storylines will materialize as we plow through the offseason.
I’ve already provided a sampling - how Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo fit on the roster, how Adley Rutschman will hit, anything Félix Bautista, rehab progress made by Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, Grayson Rodriguez’s health after being left off the Wild Card roster, anything Jackson Holliday, what a full season of Zach Eflin could do, whether Daz Cameron can make the club as an extra outfielder, whether Dean Kremer can take the next step, reaction to the left field wall, the bullpen, and whether Cade Povich makes the club.
I focused on Danny Coulombe’s removal from the ‘pen, but now we can add Jacob Webb.
Here are a few more.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Tendered 2025 contracts to LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Kyle Bradish, RHP Dean Kremer, INF/OF Jorge Mateo, INF Ryan Mountcastle, OF Cedric Mullins, LHP Trevor Rogers, C Adley Rutschman, LHP Gregory Soto, INF Ramón Urías, and RHP Tyler Wells, as well as all pre-arbitration 40-man players.
- Agreed to terms with INF Emmanuel Rivera on a one-year contract for the 2025 season, avoiding arbitration.
- Declined to tender a contract to RHP Jacob Webb, allowing him to become a free agent.
The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 38 players.
Major League Baseball has reached another important deadline today, with teams required to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players. It’s known as the “non-tender” date. Good for baseball, bad for steakhouse chefs.
The Orioles went a surprising 17-for-17 last year and they have 13 players to consider this afternoon. As usual, there are the slam dunks and the shaky on the perimeters.
The list stood at 16 before the Orioles did some whittling, including the decision to pick up left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez’s $2.2 million option for 2025. They could have declined it and negotiated a new deal.
Pitchers Matt Bowman and Burch Smith elected free agency rather than outright assignments.
At the risk of being wrong again, which never stops me from trying, I’ll predict that the Orioles go 13-for-13.
Who have you got in the World Series?
How much do you care after the Orioles lost in the Wild Card?
They’re busy reconstructing the coaching staff after moving on from co-hitting coach Ryan Fuller, bench coach Fredi González and major league coach José Hernández, and after co-hitting coach Matt Borgschulte returned to the Twins. But there’s lots more to keep them preoccupied this month and beyond.
Roster decisions are on the agenda, of course, and the following are included:
What to do with Emmanuel Rivera.
With their 9-2 win over the Minnesota Twins Saturday night, the Orioles improved their record to 90-71 with one game to play.
The Birds have won four of five and six of the last nine games as they are playing better with the playoffs starting Tuesday.
A win today and they would finish 33-33 in the second half.
By securing win No. 90, this O’s team is now tied for the 20th-most wins in team history with the 1975 and 1978 teams. So 22 O’s teams have won 90 or more.
If they get win No. 91 today, the O’s will tie for the 18th-most wins in club history with teams from 1968 and 1974.
