The Orioles announced Thursday that they’ve placed infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo on the 10-day injured list due to a subluxation (i.e. partial dislocation) of his left elbow. Fellow infielder/outfielder Connor Norby is up from Triple-A Norfolk in his place. Baltimore also optioned righty Chayce McDermott to Norfolk following last night’s MLB debut and recalled righty Bryan Baker, adding a fresh arm to the bullpen.
Mateo suffered the injury on Tuesday in a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson when both infielders slid for an up-the-middle grounder (video link). It’s not clear yet how long he’ll be sidelined. Manager Brandon Hyde told the Baltimore beat that Mateo will “miss some time,” but there’s still enough swelling to obfuscate the full recovery picture (link via Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun). While Mateo didn’t require immediate surgery, his arm was placed in a cast on Tuesday. He’ll eventually receive a second opinion, Weyrich tweets, and Hyde added that it’s “too soon” to tell whether Mateo will need surgery at some point.
With Mateo out for an indefinite period, Norby will “get some regular playing time” at second base, Hyde revealed. It’s a notable development both in the sense that Norby has ranked among the system’s best prospects since he was selected in the second round of the 2021 draft and in the sense that Norby has been a oft-speculated trade candidate as the O’s look to upgrade their pitching staff. The Orioles possess enough infield depth that they could still trade Norby — Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias can both play second base, and top prospects Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo are looming in the upper minors — but that outcome seems less likely now that he’s ticketed for a near-everyday role in the big leagues.
Mateo, 29, has been the Orioles’ primary second baseman this season. He’s batted just .229/.267/.401 on the year. That’s 13% worse than league-average, by measure of wRC+, but Mateo has provided modest pop (five homers, .172 ISO) and plenty of value on the basepaths (13-for-15 in steals). Defensive metrics feel he’s been roughly average with the glove — his penchant for highlight-reel plays not withstanding.
With what seems like a notable absence and even a potential for surgery on the table, Mateo’s outlook in Baltimore becomes cloudy. He’s due for one more arbitration raise this offseason and would reach free agency following the 2025 campaign. Given the possibility of a long layoff, the team’s enviable infield depth and the fact that Mateo is owed a raise on a $2.7MM salary, he could again emerge as an offseason trade candidate or non-tender candidate, depending on the ultimate prognosis for his injury.
The 24-year-old Norby isn’t likely to be a defensive upgrade but can be reasonably expected to provide a boost to an already potent lineup. He’s hitting .297/.389/.519 in Norfolk (133 wRC+) with 16 home runs, 21 doubles, a triple, 13 steals (in 16 tries) and a stout 12.5% walk rate. Norby’s 27.7% strikeout rate with the Tides is a red flag, but punchouts haven’t been a long-running problem for the East Carolina University product.
Norby made his big league debut earlier this season, appearing in four games and going 3-for-14 with a home run before being sent back down. He can’t accrue a full year of service in 2024, meaning he’ll still be under club control for another six full seasons. He’s in the first of his three minor league option years and won’t be arbitration-eligible until the 2027-28 offseason at the earliest.
Whatever will the Os do without Mateo’s average defense and horrible plate discipline? This move probably should have happened already.
Every time I have seen him play he stood out as a good defender. He’s not an amazing player but he’s certainly a good one.
I agree. But this is a team that thinks it can go to World Series. Can’t be playing Mateo every day. It’s nice that he has a hit now and then but they need to play their best players
They will definitely not make it to the world series with the pitching staff they have. If they can upgrade it significantly before the trade deadline they would then become a favorite not only to get there but to win it.
Huge for my O’s to call up Connor “Ryne Sandberg” Norby. Think of how many jerseys he’s gonna sell!
Mateo’s defense was gold glove level. His bat wasn’t very good. He is also an elite base runner. I agree Norby or Mayo should have been up sooner. Urias doesn’t offer much.
Not a gold glover this year.
He had a 0 DRS and -1 OAA.
He was the epitome of average on defense.
You can’t be an elite runner if you don’t get on base. He should have 40 steals now instead of 13.
He’s a better SS than second baseman but he’s well above average defensively. It’s his bat that has to go
Yup, Norby just homered too.
I’m a O’s fan Norby and Mayo should be playing over Mateo and Urias. I could understand Mateo or pitch running but Urias has been terrible.
Mateo would be a nice bench piece that can back up 2B/SS/CF and pinch run, he is simply miscast as a regular. Sadly, his O’s tenure may have just ended if his recovery is long enough and they cut bait on him.
I think Mateo is a starter on 25 big league teams. The only reason he might not be on the Orioles is they have the deepest infield in all of baseball.
I think you may be overstating it some but I agree that he is probably starting on at least like 10 teams, maybe more.
@blackpink – this was such a ridiculous overstatement, I decided to try a little exercise to look at the other 30 middle infield combos – and assuming no injuries, total WAR to include defense, contract commitments, etc., I found 15 or 16 where Mateo would NOT start regularly. Including (but not limited to):
Bos, Cle, Hou, KC, Minn, NYY, Tex, Ari, Cubs, Cin, Col, Mil, Phil, Pit, SD, Wash. You can argue some of those of course, but you are not getting it down to 5, trust me.
Now if your argument is that he could slot into 3rd, or 1st, or LF, then we might as well include everyone. He’s a middle infielder and he wouldn’t start on any of those teams.
He’s as good as Rocchio in Cleveland.
Torres is playing bad for the Yankees
Who plays 2b for the Twins?
I think you are making stuff up. If it’s 15 or 20 teams instead of 25 then fine. But you took the time to look it up and you are making stuff up.
You are asking me to do your work for you, then claiming that I’m making it up. Willi Castro plays 2b for the Twins and is monumentally better offensively (3 WAR), Rocchio is much better defensively based on data, but you could make the argument that Mateo might platoon with him and Schneeman (although their combined WAR is much higher).
Of course Torres is playing poorly, but Mateo wouldn’t start over him because their WARs are similar and Torres is making $14M.
He would most likely start on 9 or 10 clubs, like the White Sox, Marlins, Tigers, As, etc. Is your point that he’s good enough to start on the dregs of the league? If so – we can agree on that. But your argument is that he would start on all but 5 teams, and that’s just silly.
You must not actually watch the orioles at all. Mateo might not appear to be an asset to the casual observer but he is one of the more unique spark plugs in the game. He goes through periods where he is an asset at the plate and can give GG quality defense. He’s never put it all together and sustained it for a season but not everything is a star. Hyde has done a bet good job of utilizing his skills to get the most out of him (moreso when he isn’t forced to be an everyday player). But his defense is well above average (though you take that with the occasional bonehead play). He will be missed. Os fans hope he’s back soon. Try watching some baseball games on occasion so that you don’t make such knucklehead comments.
Oooo – the much vaunted “eye test”, or “clubhouse guy” comment – the last ditch effort of the fan who doesn’t understand data.
No one said he was terrible and didn’t add value. He is incredible fast – that’s pretty much his value unless he gets hot (which does happen, but not enough to make up for his awful plate discipline and average defense). Blackpink said he would start on 25 teams, which started this mess.
Seems like Jackson Holliday is ready for another chance.
Not yet, Norby and Mayo are way ahead of him. They both have over 1300 minor league at bats. Holliday has almost 800.
Agreed Norby just homered. Norby should be getting regular starts at 2nd.
Holliday is going to have to wait until next year unless someone is traded.
I would bet someone is traded.
Holliday will help in the 2nd half. Mike Elias has said so. He’ll be in Baltimore in two weeks.
There is no rule that says Holliday needs a certain number of minor league at bats. He’s the top prospect in all of baseball. He’s performing at AAA.
Wonder when Holliday will be ready to play the field?
He’s been playing there this week!
He’s picked it up down at AAA. He should be back in the next few weeks.
So Norby is being showcased for a trade, right? Not sure I buy that’s he’s their 2b with questionable defense and other options that can cover with Mayo and Holliday waiting to be called up.
I think it’s the right move for now- Norby has already been waiting in the wings for awhile and is currently on the 40-man, so he beats out Mayo, who still needs to improve defensively to play 3B regilarly at the MLB level anyway, while Holliday also needs a little more polish on his defense, so waiting until September call ups to allow him to get more reps at 2B isn’t the worst idea.
Norby kind of showed he is what people thought of him by going 2-4 with a HR but also messing up a play a 2B in the 9th.
I don’t think the Ripkens will allow a Holliday trade, especially since he wears their father’s jersey number that he needed permission to get
Never want to see an injury but this is great timing for the floundering Os offense. They will lose some speed and defense but Norby has been the most ready of the prospects for a year now.
I don’t think it means anything with respect to trades – that will be decided in the coming days and no team is making a decision based on seeing him for 4 days…
Yup, injury made the move that the front office/coaches wouldn’t do.
Norby has been playing outfield because of the O’s glut of infielders and to increase his versatility. His natural position is 2B. Norby is older than Holliday, who needs more development time; and also Mayo, who’s not on the 40 man roster. In most organizations, Norby would already be on the big league team…
Norby is hitting well in the minors, so his bat is a potential upgrade over Mateo’s so-so bat. Orioles have qualify depth available, so I think they’ll be fine!
Bummed about Mateo, he’s an exciting player to watch when he isn’t in a complete funk. Hope he isn’t facing too long of an absence.
The silver lining is that Norby will finally get the extended MLB look he earned awhile ago. Good luck to him.
If Mateo’s season is done, it’ll be the third year in a row where his OBP is .267
When will Holliday come up again? When he comes up what happens to norby?
I think Holliday stays down until September to try to retain his rookie eligibility for next year so he can potentially win us a draft pick if he hits the ground running in his first full year.
What happens to Norby may be dependant on what happens to Urias. My guess is nothing, so Norby gets optioned back to Norfolk.
The word “obfuscate” is deeply underrated
Mad props to guys like Mateo, Urias, Hays and Mullins. All got the majority of reps at their reprectitive positions on a 101 win team in 23 and a winning one in 22.
Even though that’s the case, in 2024 all have that “dead man walking” designation. The young guns are charging. What a mind bend it must be for each.
Statistics and analytic analysis and all that stuff are absolutely necessary to a FO when figuring out who plays and who doesn’t. I get it. All said; remember what Yogi said. The game is “90% mental, the other half physical”. Nudging out players that r winners and replacing them with much better talent (on paper) is quite the gamble for an FO. Nice problem to have.
Man a lot of people overrate Mateo! I’ve seen him as a “roster spot occupier” for two years now.
Yes, he can run. Big deal, he can’t get on base, as his putrid .267 OBP that matches both his 2023 and 2022 marks attest.
He looks athletic in the field, but this is deceiving. His metrics are league average this year and that is not at all a fluke, last year he was just barely above league average. He’s not a gold glover. Lots of people apparently get fooled by appearances versus results as a defender (see Jeter, Derek).
He’s hitting .220 and that’s a lot of unproductive outs, because he doesn’t take many walks and he strikes out a heck of a lot for a guy with little power. Last year he hit .180 after May 1. This year he’s only a little less worse than that.
On the Orioles, Urias is more versatile defensively as a UIF than Mateo and hits a bit better. Mateo could be a bench player on some other teams but any other team thinking of him as a starter really must have a hole in the infield.
On a team that should have World Series aspirations, Mateo should not see the field more than as a pinch runner. He adds no value as a fielder and loses value with the bat.
Anytime the Orioles play him they are increasing the degree of difficulty on themselves to win.
Agree to an extent. Defensively, he’s playing out of position. So i cut him slack. If Gunnar goes down, he does back to SS before a Holiday or the like.
He’s quite the enigma offensively. Just when I’ve had enough of him, he shows up. A couple of examples.
1. In 2022 on a steamy hot Saturday night in Baltimore, he single handedly beat the Yanks Cole. Os trailing, he singles driving in a run then eventually scores (tying run). A couple of innings later. He singles again. Then, using his speed, matriculates around the bases scoring the go ahead run. Dude.
2. When practically everyone else in the line up is crapping the bed against Texas in the playoffs last year, he shows up.
What a tease.
Jeff
Mateo reminded me of Corey Patterson (speaking of teases) a little bit when he was hot, but unfortunately hot for a few weeks per season and .180 for 85% of it doesn’t cut it.
Patterson was given much more rope in the dark days. 5 tool player who could never display multiple tools at once and expected to be the leadoff guy but couldn’t get on base. He was frustrating.
Mateo is a classic “whole is greater than sum of parts” baseball player who helps a good team win a lot of games, but whose stats look bad in isolation.
Mateo scores runs per PA at a higher rate than anyone on O’s except Gunnar Henderson. He doesn’t get on base enough but when he does his elite speed means he is much more likely to score than an average player and fans understand and see this happening.
He is elite defensively when getting regular playing time at SS. He should have won the GG 2 years ago and did win the Fielding Bible award, which shows how elite his defensive metrics were at SS. He is playing out-of-position so to provide league average defense at a position you never played in minors is actually impressive.
He isn’t an everyday player. He’s an elite pinch runner, defensive replacement, starter against LH pitching, where he has an above average bat – a bench player so valuable that O’s went out and got Cristian Pache – the Mateo of the outfield to replace the unique skills Mateo adds to a team.
Also, his arm strength enables him to throw out runners at home on relay throws and make double plays that our other 2nd baseman don’t make without SS cannons for arms.
It’s not purely coincidental that O’s have lost 3 out of 4 games (and nearly 4 out of 4 without an extra innings salvage) since Mateo went down. The infield looks shambolic without him and infield errors have led to 4 unearned runs already.