The Orioles announced four roster moves this morning, including news for the right-hander Albert Suarez selected for assignment. That’s right Tyler Wells was also optioned to Triple-A, while the lefty Nick Raquet he was called up to Triple-A. Left hand Dietrich Enns was also activated on the 15-day injured list.
Perhaps the most interesting transaction is yet to come, as Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reported earlier today that the top prospect Trey Gibson joins the group in New York. Gibson is currently on the Orioles’ roster, but could be officially selected to make his MLB debut tomorrow at Yankee Stadium.
This is the second time in a week that the O’s have selected Suarez. The righty’s first trip through DFA limbo saw him clear waivers, choose free agency over direct assignment, and quickly re-sign with Baltimore to a new minor league contract. That new deal was then quickly selected back from the 26-man roster yesterday Ryan Helsley was placed on the 15-day IL, and Suarez pitched 2 2/3 innings Friday in the Orioles’ 7-2 loss to the Yankees.
Wells also threw 25 pitches over 1 1/3 innings of relief work yesterday, so today’s move is about getting new arms in the bullpen and the O’s have a quick turnaround for the afternoon game after Friday night’s game. Between Wells’ performance last night and his two remaining major league options, he was a reasonable candidate to be sent on paper, even if the move is surprising considering how well the righty has been playing with something on the roster.
Wells has a 3.44 ERA, a 23.7% strikeout rate, and a 5.3% walk rate over 18 1/3 innings of relief this season. After excelling as a regular starter in 2022-23, Wells missed most of the next two seasons due to UCL surgery, and the Orioles opted to use him as a multi-inning reliever this year as their rotation was full.
The option means Wells must spend a minimum of 15 days in Triple-A before being eligible for a call-up, unless Baltimore has another injury vacancy in the meantime. Given how hard the Orioles have been bitten by the injury bug this year, it’s probably safe to assume Wells will be back in the lineup before that 15-day stretch is up.
Another quick matchup between Suarez and the O’s also can’t be ruled out, assuming Suarez clears waivers again. Suarez could once again decline an outright assignment and test the open market to weigh his options, or Suarez and the Orioles could have a handshake deal already in place to return the favor of another minor league deal at the right time.
Enns returns to action after a foot injury kept the southpaw out of IL for nearly a month. Enns joins a Baltimore pen that now has an equal number of lefties and righties, as Enns and Raquet join. Keegan Akin again Grant Wolfram as the left-hand part of the auxiliary compound. Even with Enns activated, the Orioles still have seven other pitchers and 11 starters on their swollen injured list.
