Amid the Orioles’ rebuild, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias pointed to the Tampa Bay Rays’ “transactional” nature as a reason for their short- and long-term success, suggesting it was something his organization could aspire to.
Those days have arrived. With improved organizational depth, the Orioles have capitalized on the fringes of their roster in getting off to a 23-13 start, the latest win coming against a Tampa Bay team that is the only club in the American League with a better record (29-8) than Baltimore.
“I think this is a season and a 40-man roster where every single person on that 40-man roster is going to come into play for us throughout the year,” Elias said before Tuesday’s game, shortly after the Orioles shuffled their bench and bullpen.
With Ramón Urías going on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, Baltimore replaced an infielder who hits from the right side with two who bat left-handed, recalling Ryan O’Hearn and Terrin Vavra from Triple-A Norfolk while also designating catcher Luis Torrens for assignment.
Elias said bringing up the pair of left-handed bats “helps us from a matchup standpoint and depth standpoint for these upcoming opponents.” The Orioles have already shown a willingness to platoon not only on the field, but with their roster. When Vavra was first sent to Norfolk, it was to bring up infield prospect Joey Ortiz, a right-handed hitter, ahead of three straight matchups with left-handed starters. After that trifecta, Ortiz was returned to Triple-A, with Orioles bringing up the left-handed-hitting Kyle Stowers.
Stowers and Ortiz were selected early in the 2019 draft, Baltimore’s first under Elias, while Vavra was among the minor leaguers they acquired in trading away major league talent during the rebuild. Each has been regarded as one of Baltimore’s top 15 prospects, and although the organization wants them to get the opportunity to grow, it will need them to fill a role in the majors, even if it proves small or short-lived.
“We’re still wanting to develop these guys as everyday players and make sure they have everyday playing time or a lot of playing time, but we’re bringing them up in spots to help out off the bench or in short spurts,” Elias said. “I think it requires a little bit more of a balancing act between developing their careers and then maybe getting them some part-time play up here, taste of the major leagues, a little more sporadic playing time in the major leagues, but they’re brought up to help our team win in spots, so I think that part is relatively new for us kind of in the last calendar year, where that balance is more to the forefront. I’m very happy that that’s the situation because it means we’re winning.”
Added fifth-year manager Brandon Hyde: “We’re trying to field a competitive team and to win, and we’re trying to put our best roster we can at the big league level. And sometimes that means younger players have to platoon or not get everyday at-bats.”
The Orioles also made a swap of left-handed long relievers, optioning Keegan Akin and bringing up Drew Rom for the first time. Rom was well rested, with Elias noting that him being scheduled to start Tuesday for Norfolk was factored into the call-up decision.
Each member of the Orioles’ Triple-A rotation is also on their 40-man roster, giving them the flexibility to make similar moves throughout the season, though Elias noted it’s important for the organization to retain rotation depth even if those pitchers could benefit the team as relievers. Although No. 4 prospect DL Hall thrived in a relief role with Baltimore down the stretch last year, the Orioles had him open this season as a starter with Norfolk. However, he’s since made one major league relief outing during a brief call-up, and Elias said the team could “definitely” use him out of the bullpen again if a need arises.
“When we have an injury or we have some matchups changing or the bullpen needs a fresh arm, we tend to be able to make a move to do it,” Elias said. “It’s a long season. I’m sure we’ll have a lot of this for a number of reasons.”
Unlike the rebuilding seasons, these transactions are made with competitive intentions rather than out of desperation. The Orioles’ rotation has struggled to work deep consistently, but Hyde has generally had enough relievers at his disposal to make do on a given night.
Having managed Baltimore since the rebuild’s first full season in 2019, he’s appreciative of how far the organization has come.
“I feel like we have a lot of movable pieces,” Hyde said. “A lot of our 40-man players are young, and so when you’re looking to match up or you have a need roster-wise, we’re picking from kind of prospect-type players. That’s not always the case. I think that’s exciting, honestly, that we have young, really, really talented players in Triple-A that we feel like can help us.”
That talent exemplifies the Orioles’ depth, as Norfolk possesses the best record in the minors. Many of the players contributing to that success have either spent time with Baltimore or figure to do so at some point. Infield prospect Jordan Westburg has nearly spent a full year at Triple-A, but Elias suggested the Orioles’ efforts to match up against upcoming opponents meant O’Hearn and Vavra, as left-handed hitters, got precedence over a right-handed hitter who Baseball America ranks as the Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect.
But Westburg is in the organization, and that means at some point this season, he could help the Orioles.
“I just view this whole group as our team this year,” Elias said. “We’re going to tap into every resource that we have in the majors and minors as needed.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer contributed to this article.
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