The Orioles have designated right-hander Eduard Bazardo for assignment, per a club announcement. In corresponding moves, the club has selected the contract of right-hander Joey Krehbiel and optioned right-hander Tyler Wells to Double-A Bowie.
Bazardo, 27, made his big league debut back in 2021 with the Red Sox, pitching for them in parts of two seasons. Bazardo then elected free agency after being designated for assignment in October 2022. That December, he landed with Baltimore on a minor league deal before being selected to the roster earlier this month. In all, Bazardo sports a career 3.74 ERA and 5.26 FIP in 21 2/3 innings in the majors. He’s posted similar numbers at the Triple-A level in his career, with a 3.86 ERA with a 24.5% strikeout rate in 107 innings of work at the level, which includes a strong 3.05 ERA in 38 1/3 innings with the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk this season.
The Orioles have a week to trade, waive, or release Bazardo, though of course any trade would have to come prior to the trade deadline on August 1. In the event that Bazardo clears waivers successfully, the Orioles will have the opportunity to outright him to the minor leagues, though Bazardo has the right to reject that assignment as a player who’s been outrighted previously in his career.
Bazardo’s exit makes room for Krehbiel on the 40-man roster. A 12th-round pick by the Angels in the 2011 draft, Krehbiel broke into the majors with the Diamondbacks and the Rays before settling in with the Orioles midway through the 2021 campaign. He became a major piece of Baltimore’s bullpen in 2022, with a 3.90 ERA that clocked in at exactly league average by measure of ERA+.
While his work last season was certainly solid, Krehbiel was ultimately designated for assignment early in the 2023 season, before making an appearance at the major league level this season. He performed well at the Triple-A level this year after accepting an outright assignment, with a 3.00 ERA in 30 innings of work. That performance has earned Krehbiel another chance in the majors, where he figures to cover the middle innings for the Orioles alongside the likes of Bryan Baker and Shintaro Fujinami.
Perhaps the most surprising news of the day is the club’s decision to option Wells to make room for Krehbiel on the active roster. Wells has pitched fairly well as a member of the club’s rotation this season, with a 3.80 ERA in 113 2/3 innings of work. That quality run prevention figure belies his recent control problems, however. In the month of July, Wells has walked 13 batters in 21 innings, nearly as many as he’s struck out (16). That’s contributed to a 6.43 ERA and a 7.76 FIP this month, the latter of which has ballooned his FIP to a worrisome 5.17 figure on the season.
It’s unclear how long Wells figures to remain in the minor leagues, but his struggles and subsequent demotion highlight the club’s need for starting pitching ahead of the trade deadline on August 1. Only eight teams in the majors have gotten less fWAR out of their starters than Baltimore, and of those only the Yankees, Reds, and Red Sox have any hope of making the playoffs this season.
A precursor to acquiring Montgomery.
They will be moving Irvin back into the rotation.
This aged poorly
Why option Tyler Wells?
As good as he’s been, he’s struggled his last three starts and, I believe, he has already surpassed his career high for IP. This could be a way to limit those innings…and acquire another SP???
He is tired. It’s pretty obvious watching him. All the O’s pitchers are close to their max innings already. I am thinking 1 starter and Hader would be good.
I wonder how sending a guy to the minor leagues is meant to give him rest, when he’s still just playing Baseball at a different level. Wouldn’t going on the IL for Fatigue make more sense? I suppose the Orioles know what they’re doing I guess.
You do realize if you send a guy to AA you can simply not use that player. Giving him rest.
Don’t get me wrong, I was surprised too. Had to read it twice to make sure I saw it right. Especially since the headline mentions nothing of it and only the designating of a RP who made a total of three appearances with an ERA north of 15…
Nothing surprising here. Been ssying for a month he should go to the pen to reduce innings. He likely won’t pitch for a week or two and then they’ll let him see if his arm can get tuned up to go back to his former 7th 8th inning role. He was as good as anyone for 100 games but he has clearly hit the wall and he has options.
Doesn’t playing a man short in the minors tax the rest of the players who get overused? Every level has roster limits. Wasting a spot for a player not allowed to be used, could cause the injury of another.
As callous as this may sound, with the business of baseball — I’d think that the O’s may have an idea of who in their pitching staff are less likely to make it with the organization (and thereby play harder to offset Wells sitting) than others. A Double A player has a lot of time to recover from their injury this season that a player that will likely be part of the pen in the stretch run and hopefully, playoffs.
I hope that Wells gets a time to rest and reset his confidence as well as we’ll need Stretch to help us later.
Holy crap, Wells has been unusually wild his last 2 or 3 starts but I wouldn’t have expected them to option him. I guess they see something they want to work on ironing out and think doing it away from the bright lights of a playoff race will be more conducive to that. Still, pretty shocking.
Man all the way to double A for wells! That is wild.
Closer to Baltimore if it’s short term
Good observation. Went right over my head.
Exactly. That’s how they always use Bowie in these situations. Easier to monitor him and he can spend time with the team and coaches when they are home.
Thanks for clarifying. Not an O’s fan but I enjoy learning more about the sport
Agree. If Elias can add without mortgaging the future – like he already did w Fuji – he will but he’s not sending a Cowser or Westburg for a 2 month rental like the Rangers did to get a 40 year old
Living in Bazardo world.
How bizarre? Hope the Fish sign him so Bazardo can come in relief for Jesus Luzardo and Andrew Nardi. Then they can rename the team the Aardvarks.
Elias’ comments yesterday would seem to indicate the teams prefers cohesion and continuity ahead of the playoffs. I doubt they suddenly reverse course and make a big pitching acquisition. Perhaps the Orioles are calling up Hall?
Lol what?
This is the most complacent fan base I have ever talked to. Best record in the AL and here you are talking about staying the course and not rocking the boat.
I want to root for the Orioles. But if they don’t help their first place team at the deadline I certainly wont.
Nobody cares if you root for the Orioles. We trust Elias. We like our guys. Get over it. If they add it won’t be for one of the guys other teams fan bases are busting nuts freaking about lol just a fact.
Again, I’m not an Orioles fan.
The advice wasn’t any different when the predictors were picking the Orioles for 4th in the AL East at the start of the season. There’s no reason to listen now.
Acquiring Stars at the deadline rarely works out. Last year Padres acquired Soto and Hader. No championship.
2021 Dodgers acquired Scherzer and Turner. No championship.
2020 Padres acquired Clevenger. Nothing
I’m fine with keeping what we have or trading for a long term piece but not for a rental
It works out for only 1 team a year. If you don’t make moves there is a really good chance you won’t be that 1 team. Time has proven that.
@jeffk
You won’t see how it helps unless you look at the acquisitions of the winning teams.
Not sure why we have Elias as GM. I’m thinking the O’s are wishing they hired you instead.
Grateful that John Angelos is not like his old man, Peter. IE. no indication of meddling in the baseball operations of his investment (and from day 1 as controlling owner going back to late 2018). Stay the course John, stay the course!!!!!
Really feels like someone should give this guy a longer look.
Nobody has given up on him. He’s a foundational piece of the team’s future. He’s just pitched more innings than any other year and he needs to be shut down for now.
He was a rule 5, lost the COVID year and spent a year as a reliever so he isn’t built up to pitch 150 innings.
It is a question whether he’s better as a back end reliever or starter, but he wants to be a starter and he proved he can be a good one.
Btw folks – he might also have a minor injury that they aren’t revealing.
If he does, his agent will be letting us know, as he loses service time while in the minors. He gets full credit if on the IL. He also loses in the per diem, and could be taking a pay cut if a split contract.
These are not the headlines we’re waiting for. Come on Elias!
Not sure why people think we need to make big moves. We’re going to make the playoffs. Use this year to get a true sense of what our talent gives us. Building blocks or trade chips. Get starters in the offseason and really gear up in’24
I took a lot of grief here talking about Wells and regression a month or so ago. Anyone care to revisit?
I can see why they bring up yet another middle reliever. I am thinking there might be an IR announcement just after the deadline with Wells.
Not that the Orioles were going to do anything significant at the deadline anyway, but certainly those negotiations are tougher if your #2 starter just went on IR.
I ask fans: would you rather have one WS appearance in 5 years or be a fringe playoff team/tease for 5 yr and never make ALCS?
“You heard it from me, first.”
-Thornton Mellon
What do you want, a cookie?
No, I want people to own up for the grief and condescension given to me when I make these claims.
When I am wrong – like underestimating the Orioles’ record in 2022 along with everyone else – I own up to it and eat the crow.
Bednar and Keller, hopefully Elias has at least checked in to see what it might take to land them.