March 8: Kittredge underwent left knee debridement on Friday, the Orioles revealed to reporters, together with Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. The crew described the process as “profitable.”
March 7: Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde offered members of the media with updates on numerous injured gamers at the moment. Most notably, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez goes to start out the season on the injured checklist as a result of some discomfort in his elbow/triceps space, although Hyde emphasised that there’s no concern concerning the righty’s ligament. Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner was amongst these to relay the information. Moreover, righty Andrew Kittredge goes to have arthroscopic knee surgical procedure and can miss a number of months, per Kostka.
Rodriguez had diminished velocity in his most up-to-date begin and later instructed reporters that he felt “sluggish” and “flat” throughout the outing. Hyde finally revealed that Rodriguez was battling some soreness in his triceps. It appears the membership continues to be engaged on firming up the prognosis however has sufficient data to find out that Rodriguez received’t be prepared by Opening Day. “It’s not a ligament challenge, so we’re not involved about that,” Hyde mentioned, per Kostka. “But it surely’s going to end in some missed time. … Proper now, we’re nonetheless getting opinions.”
Time will inform concerning the long-term image, however the O’s must make a rotation pivot within the brief time period. With out Rodriguez, 4 rotation spots might be taken by Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano and Dean Kremer. Hyde mentioned at the moment that the ultimate rotation spot will seemingly come all the way down to Albert Suárez or Cade Povich, per Kostka.
Suárez, 35, spent the 2019 to 2023 seasons pitching in Asia. He returned to affiliated ball with the O’s final 12 months and had good ends in a swing position. He made 24 begins and eight reduction appearances, tossing 133 2/3 innings with a 3.70 earned run common. He solely struck out 19.1% of batters confronted however restricted walks to a 7.6% clip. He projected to be in a protracted reduction position to start out the 12 months. If he jumps into the rotation, maybe Roansy Contreras will take over because the lengthy man because the O’s are stretching him out.
Povich, 25 in April, was a high 100 prospect going into 2024 however didn’t excel in his first style of the majors. He made 16 begins final 12 months with a 5.20 ERA, 19.6% strikeout fee and 9.6% stroll fee. However his minor league numbers had been higher, as he logged 77 2/3 Triple-A innings final 12 months with a 3.48 ERA, 28.2% strikeout fee and eight.5% stroll fee. He nonetheless has choices and could possibly be within the Triple-A rotation if not within the majors.
Ideally, a kind of arms will cowl the rotation spot for a couple of turns whereas Rodriguez will get wholesome. Although if it’s finally decided that he’s going through an extended absence, maybe the membership will search for exterior assist. The free agent market nonetheless options Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, Spencer Turnbull and others. Pitchers resembling Jordan Montgomery and Taijuan Walker are seemingly accessible on the commerce block.
As for Kittredge, it’s an unlucky blow because the O’s made a notable funding in him lower than two months in the past. In mid-January, Baltimore signed Kittredge to a one-year, $10MM deal, hoping to have him take up a key position within the membership’s bullpen. However he lately skilled some soreness in his left knee and was despatched for some testing, which revealed the necessity for this operation.
This isn’t the primary time an damage has intervened within the righty’s profession. Kittredge had a 1.88 ERA in 71 2/3 innings for the Rays in 2021 however then Tommy John surgical procedure worn out most of his subsequent two seasons. He stayed wholesome final 12 months after being traded to the Cardinals and tossed 70 2/3 innings with a 2.80 ERA, 23.3% strikeout fee, 7% stroll fee and 45.2% floor ball fee. That spurred the O’s to present him an eight-figure deal however it now seems it can take a number of months for them to obtain any sort of return on that funding.
With out Kittredge, the O’s nonetheless have many sturdy reduction choices, together with Félix Bautista, Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin, Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto. If the Kittredge damage sends them searching for exterior choices, guys like David Robertson, Phil Maton and Joe Kelly are unsigned.
As for shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who’s coping with an intercostal pressure, Hyde mentioned he’s nonetheless getting remedy. Per Jake Rill of MLB.com, Hyde mentioned Jackson Holliday might be getting some shortstop reps and presumably Jordan Westburg as nicely, with the O’s seeking to construct contingency plans for the occasion Henderson misses time. Wealthy Dubroff of Baltimore Baseball provides that Liván Soto and Luis Vázquez are additionally prospects.
Each Holliday and Westburg performed a number of shortstop within the minors and must be comparatively effective in shifting over there to cowl for a bit, although they’d create holes elsewhere. Holliday initiatives because the common second baseman and Westburg the third baseman. Coby Mayo or Ramón Urías might maybe cowl third if Westburg is at brief, although it feels like Hyde might need a slight choice for Holliday, which might create a gap on the keystone. Urías has a number of second base expertise, however roughly 1 / 4 of the time he’s spent at third.
As for Soto and Vázquez, neither is on the 40-man roster at current. They each have loads of minor league expertise at second, third and brief however they’ve performed simply 46 main league video games between the 2 of them.
