LOS ANGELES — In need of both an offensive boost and fortification of the pitching staff, the Orioles can look forward to Sunday, when rosters expand at the beginning of September.
It’s not as expansive as it used to be. Beginning in 2021, Major League Baseball implemented new rules to expand rosters by two spots in September. Before that, any player on the 40-man roster could have been included on the active major league roster.
As such, the decisions ahead of the Orioles aren’t nearly as clear-cut. Teams can select one position player and one pitcher (or two position players), carrying at most 14 pitchers on the new 28-man roster.
The Orioles have plenty of options for those two spots, and manager Brandon Hyde said they will likely add one pitcher and one position player come Sunday. And just because a player is picked initially doesn’t mean Baltimore can’t make further adjustments as the final month of the regular season continues.
Here are some of the options available to the Orioles, split between position players and pitchers.
Position players
Infielder Coby Mayo
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The start of Coby Mayo’s major league career didn’t go as planned, but it was a tiny sample. Mayo is the likeliest option to be recalled when rosters expand, and he’ll bring with him a bat that has been on fire at Triple-A Norfolk. He’s hitting .296 with a .950 on-base-plus-slugging percentage for the Tides.
Even though he finished his first stint in the majors 1-for-17, Mayo has returned to his slugging ways in the minors. Mayo isn’t — and won’t be the last — prospect to start slowly upon his introduction to the highest level. Generally, given time to recalibrate, their second stints prove more profitable.
Outfielder Forrest Wall
Claimed late this month, Forrest Wall is the only healthy minor league outfielder currently on the 40-man roster. With Heston Kjerstad recovering from a concussion, Wall would provide outfield help if the Orioles deem it necessary. Wall has played 16 games this season between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins, combining to hit .250.
Kjerstad is “ramping up” baseball activities, Hyde said, although he won’t be ready to join the Orioles for another week or more — likely more.
Outfielder Daniel Johnson
Another outfield possibility is Daniel Johnson, although he’s not on the 40-man roster. Johnson has put together a strong season at Triple-A Norfolk, with 20 home runs to go with his .267 average.
Infielder J.D. Davis
The Orioles signed J.D. Davis in early August after he was released by the New York Yankees. With it being a minor league deal, Davis is not on the 40-man roster. He hit .273 in the majors this year, playing 39 games with the Oakland Athletics before featuring seven times in New York. If the Orioles felt as though Mayo needed more seasoning in the minors before returning, Davis is a veteran option.
Infielder Jean Segura
Jean Segura is another veteran possibility, although neither he nor Davis was performing well for Norfolk. Davis is hitting .140 and Segura .093. Neither recent depth addition inspires much excitement heading into September.
Pitchers
Right-hander Zach Eflin
When rosters expand, the Orioles may not turn to a new face. They could just activate a much-needed starting pitcher from injury. Right-hander Zach Eflin is an option to pitch Sunday, Hyde said, as he continues to take strides after experiencing shoulder inflammation.
Eflin’s return would be welcome. Before his injury, Eflin allowed six runs in his first 25 1/3 innings as an Oriole. He was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the trade deadline, and his presence has gone a long way toward stabilizing the rotation. Should the Orioles keep the current pitching staff intact upon Eflin’s return, left-hander Cole Irvin could shift into a long relief role. Or Baltimore could opt for a six-man rotation.
Right-hander Bryan Baker
Even with Eflin’s impending activation, Baltimore might value the addition of another reliever. Bryan Baker, a right-hander, has been up and down between Triple-A and the majors this season with mixed results. For Baltimore, Baker has a 4.71 ERA and 1.143 WHIP in 21 innings. Baker is on the 40-man roster, which makes the addition easier.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers
Trevor Rogers was the other starting pitcher the Orioles acquired at the trade deadline, but the beginning to his time in Baltimore has been far from ideal. The left-hander was optioned to Norfolk after he allowed 16 runs in 19 innings across four starts.
And his first start in Norfolk was a disaster. He allowed 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings. To see him back in the mix before next season would come as a surprise.
Right-hander Brandon Young
Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias referenced right-hander Brandon Young as a rotation depth piece. The 26-year-old is impressing in Norfolk with a 3.41 ERA in 16 appearances (14 starts), and should a hiccup occur in September, Young could be the next choice. Young isn’t on the 40-man roster, however, which would seemingly limit the chances of his debut occurring when the calendar page flips.
Right-hander Brooks Kriske
Claimed off waivers last week, right-hander Brooks Kriske was a depth addition for the 40-man roster as Baltimore looks to stack its bullpen with options ahead of the final month and the postseason. For Triple-A Louisville, the Cincinnati Reds’ affiliate, Kriske held a 3.10 ERA. In one appearance for the Tides, he struck out all three batters he faced.
Right-hander Nick Anderson
Another recent addition, right-hander Nick Anderson arrived on a minor league deal Thursday. He opted out of his minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, and previously he covered 35 2/3 innings for the Kansas City Royals with a 4.04 ERA.
“We’re trying to bring in as much talent as we can,” Hyde said. “The waiver wire is looked at closely and, I think, like all these guys we’ve signed or claimed, he’ll probably go to Triple-A and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Anderson debuted for the organization Thursday, pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
