Trevor Rogers, one of two starting pitchers the Orioles acquired ahead of the trade deadline, has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The left-hander struggled in four starts since arriving from the Miami Marlins and will now be out of the rotation picture in Baltimore for at least two weeks.

Rogers allowed 16 runs in 19 innings for the Orioles and had a 1.842 WHIP in those four starts. He is under team control through 2027, so the acquisition of Rogers had as much to do with next season as this one. Still, it feels like a blow — executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said the Orioles are “hopeful for a bounce back” from Rogers, a pitcher who earned an All-Star bid as a rookie in 2021. The Orioles gave up Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers in return.

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“He fits a profile and a need in our rotation,” Elias said after the trade deadline. “He’s shown that he’s got the ability to be anywhere from a No. 3 to a No. 5 starter in the past, and any one of those things we’ll welcome with open arms right now.”

The Orioles also completed several other roster moves Thursday ahead of a four-game series against the Houston Astros. They recalled left-hander Nick Vespi, selected the contract of right-hander Matt Bowman and activated infielder Emmanuel Rivera. To make room for that trio, Rogers, right-hander Colin Selby and infielder Liván Soto were optioned to Norfolk, and right-hander Bruce Zimmermann was designated for assignment.

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The reshuffling of the pitching staff comes at a time when the bullpen has been less than stout. Since June 1, the Orioles’ relief corps has a 4.53 ERA — No. 26 in the majors.

The rotation has suffered numerous injuries, too. Right-handers Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish and left-hander John Means are out for the season following surgeries, and right-handers Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez are expected back in September from shoulder and upper back ailments. Eflin was the other trade-deadline addition.

In Rivera, whom the Orioles claimed off waivers this week, Baltimore adds a glove-first corner infielder. He hit .214 for the Marlins in 96 games this year. Vespi has often been up and down between the minors and majors; when in the majors, the southpaw holds a career 3.96 ERA for Baltimore. And Bowman, signed as a minor league free agent this month, has jumped between multiple teams in 2024. In 10 games for three teams, Bowman has a 5.40 ERA this year.