ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Orioles bolstered their infield depth Friday by signing veteran Jean Segura to a minor league deal. The 34-year-old, who hasn’t played in the majors or minors this season, will report to Triple-A Norfolk.
Days earlier, Baltimore signed infielder J.D. Davis to a minor league deal. Both signings come after the Orioles lost two players to injury and another to a trade. Infielders Jorge Mateo (dislocated elbow) and Jordan Westburg (broken hand) will miss significant time, and prospect Connor Norby was included in a trade with the Miami Marlins for starter Trevor Rogers.
Should there be another injury, Baltimore’s additions of Segura and Davis should provide cover.
Segura last played in the majors with the Marlins last season. In 85 games, he hit .219 with a .556 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Segura was more productive in 2022 with the Philadelphia Phillies, when he hit .277 in 98 games.
Segura is a two-time All-Star, in 2013 with the Milwaukee Brewers and in 2018 with the Seattle Mariners. He played shortstop for much of his earlier major league career but has experience in recent years at second and third base.
Baltimore has replaced Mateo and Westburg with infield prospects Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo, along with veteran Ramón Urías. Holliday is playing second base on a daily basis and has been on a tear. In his last eight games, he is hitting .321 with four homers and 11 RBIs.
Mayo, like Holliday and other prospects, is having a slower start to his major league career. He’s hitless in his first 13 at-bats, although the contact, particularly of late, has been hard. Manager Brandon Hyde said before Friday’s game that it’s “part of being a young player.”
“He’s had a couple hard places to play, and it’s another one here, especially if you haven’t been here before,” Hyde said. “But he’s still a really, really young player with a huge future ahead of him, and it may take a little time to get acclimated to the big leagues.”
Minor league trade
The Orioles traded right-hander Ryan Watson to the San Francisco Giants for cash, the club announced. It comes after the trade deadline, but the deadline applies only to players with major league contracts. Because Watson has pitched only in the minors, he was available to deal.
Watson earned Baltimore’s minor league pitcher of the year award in 2022, but he hasn’t pitched much this season. In 22 2/3 innings of relief between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, the 26-year-old has a 2.38 ERA.
