The Orioles announced four roster moves this morning, including the news that right-hander Albert Suarez has been designated for assignment. Righty Tyler Wells was also optioned to Triple-A, while left-hander Nick Raquet was called up from Triple-A. Left-hander Dietrich Enns was also activated from the 15-day injured list.
Perhaps the most intriguing transaction is still to come, as The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka reported earlier today that top pitching prospect Trey Gibson is joining the team in New York. Gibson is on the Orioles’ taxi squad for now, but he could be officially selected to make his MLB debut in a start tomorrow at Yankee Stadium.
This is second time in a week that the O’s have designated Suarez. The righty’s first trip through DFA limbo saw him clear waivers, elect free agency over an outright assignment, and then quickly re-sign with Baltimore on a new minor league contract. That new deal was then promptly selected back to the 26-man roster yesterday when Ryan Helsley was placed on the 15-day IL, and Suarez threw 2 2/3 innings in Friday’s 7-2 Orioles loss to the Yankees.
Wells also threw 25 pitches over 1 1/3 innings of relief work yesterday, so today’s moves are largely about getting some fresh arms into the bullpen with the O’s having a quick turn-around of an afternoon game after Friday’s night game. Between Wells’ work last night and his two remaining minor league options, he was a logical candidate to be sent down on paper, even if the move is a surprise given how the righty has been both pitching well and something of a roster fixture.
Wells has a 3.44 ERA, 23.7% strikeout rate, and 5.3% walk rate over 18 1/3 relief innings this season. After working mostly as a regular starter in 2022-23, Wells missed most of the next two seasons due to a UCL surgery, and the Orioles chose to deploy him as a multi-inning reliever this year since their rotation was full.
The option means that Wells has to spend a minimum of 15 days at Triple-A before he is eligible to be recalled, unless Baltimore has another injury vacancy in the interim. Given how the Orioles have been bitten hard by the injury bug this year, it’s probably safe to assume that Wells will be back in the Show before that 15-day span is up.
Another swift reunion between Suarez and the O’s also can’t be ruled out, assuming Suarez clears waivers again. Suarez could again decline an outright assignment and test the open market just to weigh his options, or Suarez and the Orioles may have a handshake agreement already in place to bring the righty back on another minors deal in due course.
Enns returns to action after a foot infection kept the southpaw on the IL for almost a month. Enns rejoins a Baltimore pen that now has an equal amount of lefties and righties, as Enns and Raquet join Keegan Akin and Grant Wolfram as the left-handed contingent of the relief mix. Even with Enns activated, the Orioles still have seven other pitchers and 11 total players on their swollen injured list.
I wonder if we’re trying to stretch wells back into a starter or if it’s merely just needing a fresh arm.
I was thinking he might be getting stretched out. After seeing what Povich and Young did.
If the Orioles offense and Pirates pitching were a team, the future would be very bright. Unfortunately for both teams, that’s not the case.
Astros should grab Suarez and give him some starts.