Amidst an already busy day of Orioles transactions, the O’s announced two more moves, as infielder Jean Segura has been released from his minor league contract and left-hander Nick Vespi was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.
Segura signed his minors deal in August, and hit only .137/.250/.196 over 60 plate appearances in 14 games with Norfolk. This marked Segura’s first game action of any kind since his last game as a member of the Marlins on July 31, 2023. The Marlins traded Segura to the Guardians the next day as part of the deadline deal that brought Josh Bell to the Miami, and since Segura was only included in the trade as salary offset, Cleveland immediately released the veteran infielder.
MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko (via X) notes that Segura asked to be released and the Orioles granted the request, which could be interpreted in a few ways. It could be that Segura wanted to pursue other opportunities if Baltimore wasn’t going to add him to the MLB roster, or it might be a hint that Segura might be considering retirement. Because Segura didn’t play any winter ball and there wasn’t any indication that he was seeking out another playing contract in the year since the Guardians released him, his deal with the O’s could be viewed as one final attempt at reviving his playing career.
The two-year, $17MM free agent contract Segura signed with the Marlins in the 2022-23 offseason expires at the end of this season, which could also provide something of a clean break for the official end of his playing career. It remains to be seen if Segura is indeed thinking about calling it a career, but if so, his rough results with Miami in 2023 shouldn’t obscure an otherwise very solid 12-season run in the majors that included a pair of All-Star nods.
Baltimore designated Vespi for assignment last week, and he’ll now head to Triple-A after he cleared waivers and was removed from the Orioles’ 40-man roster. This was the first time Vespi has been outrighted, and he doesn’t have enough MLB service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency.
Vespi will instead head to Norfolk, which is a familiar path for a pitcher who has often been shuttled back and forth between the majors and minors since he made his big league debut in 2022. Vespi has looked pretty solid with a 3.88 ERA in his 53 1/3 career innings in the Show, but his lack of strikeout ability has made him somewhat of a back-of-the-bullpen arm in the Orioles’ eyes. Vespi has already been promoted and optioned to Triple-A the maximum five times this season.
No wonder Segura struggled, he hadn’t seen the majors in over 1,800 years.
“This marked Segura’s first game action of any kind since his last game as a member of the Marlins on July 31, 203.“
He was teammates with Julio Franco on that squad.
And Jesse Orosco was the closer.
Baseballbrian is right. 1,800 years is probably too long between at bats. You lose your rhythm and timing.
I don’t know. That Van Winkle fellow could really Rip them.
He does look pretty good, considering. I’ll bet he moisturizes.
I’m glad you preserved this for us since it’s been fixed now.
Best player during the Roman Empire. Prove me wrong.
Don’t be so sure, the entire Empire was named after speedy outfielder Roman Quinn.
The fact that no one was willing to take a flier on Segura for league minimum even in the off-season last winter says the league thought he was cooked. Good for him giving it one last go but this is probably the end of the line
A reunion in Philly for Segura would be awesome
Yes it would. The rest of the league would love to see that.
I loves me some Jean Segura, but if he’s at a Phillies game I want him there as a guest sitting in the stands.
Half game out. Let’s go.
I’m no Bauer fan, but he just pulled a Kirk Gibson
How long are the O’s going to put up with Kimbrel? Vespa seems to be out performing him.
It’s almost like a self-destructive relationship. You know the guy is gonna cost you big time in a big game, but they just can’t help themselves from allowing it to happen. I was shocked they didn’t trade for a closer at the deadline.
Kimbrel should only pitch in mop up duty. He doesn’t belong on post season roster.
Segura’s stock fell quickly. Solid career overall.
This ended exactly the way most of us thought it would, but we were the bad guys to even suggest the whole thing was a foolish waste of time.