The Orioles have activated shortstop Jose Iglesias from the 10-day injured list, one of multiple transactions announced today by the team. Infielder Ramon Urias and southpaw Keegan Akin have been optioned to the Orioles’ alternate training site, while the O’s selected the contract of right-hander Cesar Valdez. In addition, outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. cleared waivers (Smith was designated for assignment earlier this week) and was outrighted to the alternate site.
Iglesias’ return from a left quad injury comes after a minimum 10-day absence, as his original placement was backdated to August 16. Baltimore will now get perhaps its most unexpectedly hot bat back in the lineup, as Iglesias was off to a fantastic .400/.414/.564 start through his first 58 plate appearances.
Valdez signed a minor league deal with the Orioles over the offseason and is now on track to appear in his first Major League game since the 2017 season. His 30 2/3 innings with the A’s and Blue Jays that season marked a return to the Show from an even longer absence, as Valdez’s previous MLB experience came in a nine-game stint with the Diamondbacks in 2010. In between these hiatuses from the big leagues, Valdez has a long track record in the Mexican League, as well as eight games in the Chinese Professional Baseball League and 861 1/3 career minor league innings with the A’s, Blue Jays, D’Backs, and also the Marlins, Astros, and Pirates.
There are a whole lot of stickers on Cesar Valdez’s suitcase.
There’s a whole lot of stickers on Jose’s suitcase, too.
it was pretty brutal watching Valaika play SS
It appears you are in store for more brutality unfortunately. Iglesias Rdrs/yr at SS is -30 this season. Valaika’s is -13…