AL East Notes: Bassitt, Rodon, Scherzer, Santander
Chris Bassitt was placed on the Orioles‘ 10-day injured list on June 5 due to back soreness that had bothered the right-hander all season. The answer was a minor surgery last month that saw a bone spur removed from Bassitt’s lumbar spine area, and Bassitt told the Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer that he believes he is the first big league player to undergo such a procedure. Despite the uncertainty around such a new type of surgery, Bassitt is already feeling much better, and he has started his throwing progression in the form a long-toss session on Friday and a couple of bullpens planned for this week.
Because the O’s moved Bassitt to the 60-day IL yesterday, August 4 is the earliest possible date he’ll be able to return to Baltimore’s rotation. While it’s probably unlikely that Bassitt is back quite that early, it seems like he’s making enough progress that a return by mid-August seems feasible, assuming no setbacks in his recovery. With only a 5.27 ERA to show for his first 56 1/3 innings in an Orioles uniform, it is fair to say that Bassitt’s recurring back issues limited his performance, so a healthy Bassitt might provide a boost to an O’s team that could still be in a playoff race in August. What was looking like a lost Orioles season has been revived by the team’s ongoing seven-game winning streak, putting Baltimore two games out of a wild card slot in the crowded American League.
More injury updates from the AL East…
- Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the New York Post’s Greg Joyce and other reporters that Carlos Rodon received a PRP shot amongst other injections following a 10-pitch bullpen session on Friday. This isn’t necessarily a setback, as the plan is for Rodon to throw a full bullpen before the week is over. The left-hander hasn’t pitched since June 28 due to inflammation in his throwing elbow, and Rodon is thought to have a 4-to-6 week recovery period, putting him in line to return to the Yankees in early-to-mid August. More details on Rodon’s recovery (like if he’ll need a minor league rehab assignment or not) will be known once he gets deeper into his throwing progression.
- Max Scherzer had three cortisone injections in his right thumb last Monday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters (including MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson) and other reporters on Friday. It seemed like Scherzer was on the verge of making what might’ve been his final minor league rehab outing before being activated from the IL, but Schneider described the situation as “a bit of a pause,” rather than a setback. “Everything else is feeling good — arm, ankle, back. We’re trying to knock out all of the stuff around it….then when we hit ‘go,’ he can go and not have these stalls in between.” Scherzer has been limited to 22 innings of 10.23 ERA ball when he has been able to pitch this season, in between two IL stints.
- There was more bad news for another injury-riddled Blue Jays player, as Anthony Santander was shut down for around a week after getting a cortisone shot in his left shoulder. Since signing a five-year, $92.5MM free agent contract with Toronto in the 2024-25 offseason, Santander has played in only 54 regular-season games in 2025 and none this season, largely due to recurring shoulder issues. Santander underwent labral surgery in February to try and address the problem once and for all, but we’re now into the projected 5-to-6 month recovery period with no sign yet about when Santander might be able to make it onto the field this year.
Orioles Transfer Ryan Helsley To 60-Day IL, Select Sam Huff
5:07PM: Speaking with MASN Sports and other media after today’s 5-2 win over the Astros, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Rutschman is day to day with some discomfort in his left wrist. Adding to the catching situation, Samuel Basallo left today’s game in the second due to right shoulder discomfort. Albernaz said the shoulder issue has been “a lingering thing” for Basallo that was “aggravated today.”
12:55PM: The Orioles are going with three catchers for the time being, as Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports that the club is selecting Sam Huff from Triple-A Norfolk. Right-hander Cam Sanders is being optioned to Triple-A to clear space Huff on the active roster. In a corresponding 40-man move, Ryan Helsley is being transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Baltimore is facing the Astros’ Hunter Brown today, a right-handed pitcher. Notably, Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is not in the starting lineup, despite doing most of his damage against righties this year. Rutschman played the whole game yesterday as the DH, going 0-4 with one strikeout and a walk. It’s unclear if he’s injured or just needs a day or two to rest, though in any case, the team felt it necessary to bring up Huff as an extra option behind the plate.
Helsley’s transfer to the 60-day IL is the bigger move. The Baltimore closer missed a month and a half earlier in the season for right elbow inflammation. He was activated on June 16th but clearly wasn’t at his best. From June 17th through the 27th, Helsley allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, along with three home runs. He went back on the IL with renewed elbow discomfort on July 3rd (retroactive to June 30th).
Helsley seems to be taking a cautious approach to his rehab given his initial unsuccessful return last month. Yesterday, he told reporters, including Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, that he expects this IL stint to be more “extended.” It was reported last week that Helsley would avoid elbow surgery, but in the righty’s own words, “[I’m] just trying to make sure that it’s out of there. The only way, logically, is to give it a little bit more time.”
With today’s transfer, Helsley is eligible to return from the IL as early as August 29th. That would give him only a month of the regular season in the best case scenario. Helsley joined the Orioles on a two-year, $28MM guarantee this past offseason, with the latter $14MM coming via a player option for 2027. Given his injury troubles this year, it’s becoming more likely that he’ll accept that option and remain with Baltimore for 2027. That would set Helsley up for a healthier platform season and a more lucrative return to free agency than he could achieve this year, which may have been difficult anyway with the looming lockout.
Sanders was acquired last week in a cash trade with the Pirates, and Baltimore immediately optioned him to Triple-A. He was recalled on Friday and pitched both that day and Saturday, tossing a combined 1 2/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts. Sanders’ 8.68 ERA in 9 1/3 innings with Pittsburgh was less impressive, though his mid-90s fastball and mid-80s slider are intriguing enough. He’ll presumably get called up in the future when the bullpen needs a fresh arm.
Photo courtesy of Steven Bisig, Imagn Images
Orioles, Kyle Bradish Agree To Five-Year Extension
The Orioles have signed right-hander Kyle Bradish to a five-year extension, the team announced. The agreement will keep the righty under contract through 2031. Bradish is a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management. The deal is worth $90MM, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Bradish had two years of team control remaining. He won $3.55MM in arbitration this past offseason. The extension covers his final two years of arbitration, plus three seasons of free agency. It’s the second long-term deal for a Baltimore righty this season. Shane Baz inked a five-year extension during the first week of the regular season.
“Keeping players of Kyle’s caliber in an Orioles uniform is an important part of our long-term vision,” Orioles owner David Rubenstein said in a statement. “We are grateful to Kyle for his commitment to our organization and to Baltimore.”
Bradish will earn $10MM next season, with his salary steadily ticking up from there. He’ll make $13MM, $17MM, $22MM, and $28MM in the subsequent years of the contract. Ryan Ripken of the Ryan Ripken Show was first to report the yearly breakdown.
The 29-year-old Bradish has put together a 3.61 ERA across 19 starts this season. His xERA and xFIP are both under 4.00, though his SIERA is at 4.28. Bradish hasn’t shown the massive strikeout ability he had the past two years. His walk rate also sits at a career-worst 11.0%.
The big key this season has been availability. Bradish dealt with elbow issues in 2024 that ultimately ended in surgery. He made it back for a half-dozen starts at the end of last year. After totaling 72 1/3 innings over the past two seasons, Bradish is already up to 107 1/3 frames this year. Health permitting, he has a solid chance to set a new career high in workload, topping the 168 2/3 innings he threw in 2023.
The Angels took Bradish in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. After one season in L.A.’s system, he was dealt to Baltimore as part of a package for righty Dylan Bundy. The other pitchers in the swap (Isaac Mattson, Kyle Brnovich, Zach Peek) didn’t pan out for the Orioles, but Bradish’s contributions make the deal a clear win for Baltimore. Bundy was solid in the shortened 2020 season, then posted an ERA over 6.00 in 2021 and left the Angels via free agency.
Rubenstein took over as majority owner heading into the 2024 season. Baltimore ran payrolls around $65MM in the final few years under the previous regime. That number jumped to $103MM in 2024, per RosterResource. Our Payroll Tracker tool has the Orioles spending $165,079,097 last season. The club is just under $172MM for this year’s payroll. The increased spending isn’t limited to the pitching side. First baseman Pete Alonso‘s five-year, $155MM deal this offseason was the second-most expensive contract in franchise history (h/t Jake Rill of MLB.com). Bradish’s contract is now the club’s priciest pitcher agreement, topping Baz’s mark.
“This extension reflects the continued dedication of our ownership group, led by David Rubenstein, to build and sustain a team that our fans and Baltimore can be proud of,” Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said in a statement.
Baltimore now has Bradish and Baz locked in at the top of the rotation for the rest of the decade. Dean Kremer has another season of team control. Brandon Young won’t reach arbitration until 2029. The club still has some work to do to fill out the rotation with Trevor Rogers heading to free agency, but the core group is in place.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images
Orioles Acquire Rudy Martin Jr. From Royals
10:58pm: The clubs officially announced the trade. Bassitt has been moved to the 60-day injured list as the corresponding 40-man roster move. He has been sidelined since June 5 with a back injury that required minor surgery a few weeks ago. Manager Craig Albernaz said this afternoon that the veteran righty is throwing long toss (via Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun). The O’s still expect him back this season, but he has yet to begin a rehab assignment and wasn’t going to be ready before the end of July.
7:36pm: The Royals are trading outfielder Rudy Martin Jr. to the Orioles, reports Ari Alexander of 7 Boston News. Baltimore will select him onto the 40-man roster and option him to Triple-A Norfolk. Trades like this usually involve a nominal cash consideration going back in return.
Martin is a 30-year-old who has never appeared in the majors. He began his professional career more than a decade ago. The Royals drafted Martin in the 25th round out of a Mississippi high school in 2014. He spent time in the Washington farm system and in the Mexican league before returning to the Royals on a minor league deal last year.
That contract included an upward mobility clause, which Martin triggered earlier in the week. That meant the Royals had to offer him to the 29 other teams, any of whom could elect to put him on their 40-man roster. Kansas City could then either put him on their 40-man or send him to Baltimore.
The 5’8″ Martin has spent the majority of the season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He hit well there and has been even better since earning a promotion to Triple-A in late June. Martin has a combined .284/.414/.441 slash line across 255 plate appearances. He has walked at a huge 16.1% clip against a league average 23.5% strikeout rate. Martin has hit eight homers and stolen 33 bases in 40 tries.
That strong production has earned Martin a spot on a 40-man roster for the first time. This doesn’t guarantee that he’ll ever play in the majors but is a significant career milestone in its own right. Baltimore has Taylor Ward, Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Leody Taveras, Tyler O’Neill and utilityman Jeremiah Jackson as outfield options on the MLB roster. Heston Kjerstad, Reed Trimble and Johnathan Rodríguez are all on optional assignments to Norfolk.
The O’s have a full 40-man roster and churn through the final few spots more than any other team. Chris Bassitt or Blaze Alexander could be candidates for a move to the 60-day injured list, though they also have a number of recently acquired depth types they could look to sneak through waivers to open a spot.
Orioles Place Blaze Alexander On Injured List
July 16: Baltimore has officially placed Alexander on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 13. First baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to take his place on the active roster. Encarnacion-Strand was acquired from Cincinnati in April and has been in Triple-A all season.
July 12: The Orioles’ 8-2 win over the Royals today came at a painful cost for Blaze Alexander, as the third baseman left the game due to a non-displaced fracture in his left hand. The injury came when Lucas Erceg hit Alexander with a pitch in the bottom of the seventh, and both benches emptied after Alexander had some choice words for Erceg after the at-bat.
O’s manager Craig Albernaz shared the diagnosis about Alexander’s status in his postgame comments to media (including MASNsports), and Alexander will get more testing during the All-Star break to determine the severity of the fracture and a potential recovery timeline. Such injuries usually lead to at minimum a month on the injured list, and Alexander’s season could end up being over if surgery is required.
The brutal news spoiled a banner day for Alexander, who had scored two runs and gone 2-for-2 with a walk in the three plate appearances prior to the HBP. Alexander is now hitting .312/.368/.439 with four home runs over 246 PA, good for an impressive 123 wRC+.
A .396 BABIP has played a huge role in Alexander’s offensive production, as he batted only .237/.322/.366 in 451 career PA for the Diamondbacks prior to the February trade that brought the utilityman to Baltimore. Not much has gone right for the Orioles in the first half, yet Alexander has been a bright spot.
Beyond his unexpected offense, Alexander’s defensive versatility has helped the O’s fill holes all over the diamond. He has gotten a good chunk of action at second base, shortstop, and all three outfield spots, though Alexander has mostly played third base, and had been settled into semi-regular duty at the hot corner as the Orioles looked to keep his bat in the lineup.
Today’s win over Kansas City improved Baltimore’s record to 46-51, and the O’s head into the break with the momentum of a four-game winning streak. Like pretty much the entire American League, the Orioles remain in the playoff picture, as they’re only two games out of a wild card spot. It remains to be seen if the O’s can keep rolling and start to look like more full-fledged contenders as the deadline approaches, though their chances will take a hit without Alexander’s production.
If the Orioles are buyers, they might now look to obtain another utilityman, should Alexander indeed be facing a more long-term absence. Coby Mayo will probably take the bulk of third base time for now, as the former top prospect is still trying to establish himself in his third MLB season.
Keegan Akin Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
The Orioles announced that left-hander Keegan Akin has undergone Tommy John surgery. He will miss the remainder of this year and possibly all of 2027 as well. He’s already on the 60-day injured list and will stay there for the rest of the season. Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com was among those to pass the news along.
It’s unsurprising-but-brutal news for the lefty. He hit the 15-day IL at the end of June due to elbow discomfort. About a week ago, it was revealed that Akin would be visiting surgeon Dr. Keith Meister for a consultation. A few days later, it became apparent that Akin’s ulnar collateral ligament had been injured and he was moved to the 60-day IL.
Now the worst-case scenario has come to pass. Given that Tommy John surgery usually requires 14 months of rehab or more, he’ll be out of action until late in 2027 and might even miss that entire campaign.
Akin had a pretty strong run for the O’s prior to this season. From 2022 to 2025, he logged 247 1/3 innings out of the Balitmore bullpen, allowing 3.64 earned runs per nine. He struck out 25.4% of batters faced and only gave out walks at a 7.7% clip. He racked up 11 saves and 28 holds in that time.
The results haven’t been as strong this season, as he posted a 5.68 ERA before landing on the injured list. A 59.2% strand rate made that ERA look a bit worse than Akin deserved but this year’s 14.9% strikeout rate was way down from his previous work.
For the Orioles, they were expecting Akin to be their primary relief lefty but instead he gave them lackluster results for the first half and will now miss the second half. Grant Wolfram is the only southpaw in the big league bullpen now. If the O’s decide to buy at the deadline, lefty relief will be a natural target area for them. Their 46-51 record isn’t great but they are only two games back of a playoff spot in this year’s weak American League field.
If they had decided to sell, Akin would have been a natural trade candidate since he’s an impending free agent. His early-season performance already wiped out a lot of his appeal. Whatever lingering chance existed of him salvaging some value is now completely gone.
He’ll head into free agency while still rehabbing and with a long road ahead. Pitchers in that situation sometimes sign two-year deals. That allows them to collect a paycheck while injured, while also allowing them to use team facilities. For the signing team, they get little to no return on investment in the first year but hope that the bet pays off when the player gets healthy for the second year.
Photo courtesy of James A. Pittman, Imagn Images
Orioles Acquire Cam Sanders From Pirates
The Orioles have traded for right-hander Cam Sanders, the team announced. The Pirates designated Sanders for assignment last week. Pittsburgh will receive cash in the deal. Baltimore moved lefty Keegan Akin to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man roster spot. Sanders was optioned to Triple-A.
Sanders was bumped off the roster after the Pirates traded for infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Brandon Eisert from the White Sox. He’d been up and down with the big-league club several times this season. Sanders was tagged for nine earned runs in nine appearances with Pittsburgh this year.
The Pirates added Sanders on a minor league deal last year after he’d spent his entire pro career in the Cubs’ system. He debuted with the club near the end of the season and posted an 8.10 ERA over 6 2/3 innings. The righty had more walks (5) than strikeouts (4) in his first stint in the big leagues. He’s improved the strikeout numbers this season, punching out opponents at a solid 27.1% clip. The issue is that his walk rate has spiked to 20.8%. Sanders had some solid strikeout seasons in the minors, but control was a persistent problem.
The 29-year-old Sanders leaned on a fastball/slider combo with the Pirates. He mixed in a changeup to lefties. The righty ditched his sweeper this year and added a sinker. Sanders’ four-seamer and slider both had whiff rates above 40% in his limited MLB time this year, so the Orioles have something to work with. The key will be getting those pitches in the strike zone more often.
Akin has been sidelined since late June with a UCL injury. He’s slated for a visit with Dr. Keith Meister this week. Akin seems to be headed toward an extended absence. The veteran lefty has been a regular on Baltimore’s staff since his 2020 debut. He’s been relied on in high-leverage situations in recent seasons, including as the closer last year, when he tallied a career-best eight saves.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images
Orioles Activate Yaramil Hiraldo From 60-Day IL
The Orioles reinstated right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A, the club announced. Hiraldo has been sidelined since early April with shoulder inflammation. Baltimore now has a full 40-man roster.
Hiraldo broke camp with the club after a decent stretch to close the 2025 season. He permitted four earned runs in three appearances before going down with the shoulder injury. Hiraldo walked four and struck out two over 1 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old began a rehab assignment at the end of June. He’s made four appearances between High-A and Triple-A. He’ll remain in the Norfolk bullpen for now.
It was a winding journey to the big leagues for Hiraldo. He was signed by the Diamondbacks as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. The righty topped out at High-A in Arizona’s system and was released after the 2021 season. Hiraldo pitched in various independent leagues from 2022 to 2024. A strong campaign in the Mexican League earned Hiraldo another look in affiliated ball with Baltimore. He delivered a 3.55 ERA with a healthy 34.4% strikeout rate across three minor league levels last year.
Hiraldo sits in the mid-90s with his four-seamer and sinker. He also throws a slider and splitter. The righty leaned on the fastball and splitter almost equally last season. The slider was his clear third pitch, but he still used it 26.1% of the time. It’s a well-rounded arsenal for a reliever. Hiraldo’s splitter looks like a legit weapon, with a ridiculous 61.6% whiff rate and a .161 batted average allowed last year.
Baltimore is without closer Ryan Helsley, but the bullpen has a steady stable of right-handers with Andrew Kittredge, Rico Garcia, Tyler Wells, Yennier Cano, and Anthony Nunez. Long man Albert Suarez is also right-handed. There isn’t an obvious spot for Hiraldo, but further attrition could provide him with another big-league opportunity. He’s in his second minor league option year.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images
Ryan Helsley Expected To Avoid Elbow Surgery
The Orioles have been without closer Ryan Helsley for the past two weeks as he recovers from his second elbow injury of the season. Manager Craig Albernaz shed light on Helsley’s diagnosis before Saturday’s matchup against the Royals. The hard-throwing reliever has inflammation around his UCL, but the ligament isn’t torn, Albernaz told reporters, including Roch Kubatko of MASN. Helsley is expected to avoid surgery.
Baltimore inked Helsley to a two-year, $28MM deal over the winter. He was a perfect 7-for-7 in save chances through April, but hit the injured list with elbow inflammation to open May. Helsley returned to the club in mid-June, only to head back to the IL with renewed elbow discomfort in early July. The righty was ineffective between IL stints, allowing six runs (four earned) over 4 2/3 innings.
Despite the poor results, Helsley’s stuff looked intact during his five games in June. He sat at 98.7 mph with his fastball, which is exactly what it was in 12 games before the first IL stint. Helsley’s Stuff+ improved from 118 to 125 after his return. Both samples are relatively small, but Helsley didn’t seem any worse for wear after the initial elbow problem.
Injuries were a consistent theme early in Helsley’s career. He missed time with shoulder, elbow, and forearm issues over his first five seasons with the Cardinals. The reliever has been healthy over the past couple of years. He tossed a career-high 66 1/3 innings with St. Louis in 2024. Helsley led the majors with 49 saves that year. He made 58 appearances between the Cardinals and Mets last season.
The injury update for left-hander Keegan Akin wasn’t as positive. The reliever is dealing with a UCL injury and will visit Dr. Keith Meister next week for a second opinion, per Albernaz. Those appointments don’t typically end well. Akin went down with elbow discomfort at the end of June. Albernaz declined to say whether surgery was an option.
Akin opened the season on the injured list with a groin strain. He returned in late April and was pummeled for six earned runs in his first outing. Another six-run clunker hurt his overall numbers, but Akin has been serviceable outside of the two blowups. His 3.68 xERA is two runs lower than his actual mark.
Baltimore has relied on Grant Wolfram and Nick Raquet as the left-handed options in the bullpen without Akin. Rico Garcia, Tyler Wells, and Andrew Kittredge have taken turns as closer with Helsley out. All-star reliever Felix Bautista is working his way back from shoulder surgery. It’s unclear if he’ll pitch this season.
Photo courtesy Steven Bisig, Imagn Images
Orioles Outright Chadwick Tromp
The Orioles announced that catcher Chadwick Tromp accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore designated him for assignment last week.
Tromp was only on the MLB roster for a couple weeks. He drew one start and went 2-3 with an RBI. Tromp also played in 12 games for the Braves earlier in the season and has 80 big league appearances over parts of seven seasons. The Aruba native is a lifetime .225/.232/.375 hitter with six home runs in 208 trips to the dish.
This was Tromp’s second brief MLB stint with Baltimore. He has mostly bounced between the O’s and Braves as a third or fourth catcher over the last few years. Tromp has a .241/.315/.395 slash line in parts of nine Triple-A seasons. He and Sam Huff are both with Norfolk as non-roster depth behind the MLB duo of Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo.