The Orioles have made a couple of tweaks behind the roster to begin the offseason. Baltimore introduced a pair of waiver claims: catcher Rene Pinto from the division rival Rays and right-hander Thaddeus Ward from the Nationals. Baltimore additionally despatched veteran reliever Matt Bowman by way of outright waivers; he elected free company. Lastly, the O’s chosen the contract of lefty reliever Luis González. That sequence of strikes leaves them with 37 gamers on the 40-man roster.
Pinto opened this previous season as Tampa Bay’s beginning catcher. It didn’t take lengthy earlier than he misplaced that job. He solely made 19 appearances earlier than being optioned to Triple-A Durham. Pinto spent the majority of the 12 months within the minors and slumped to a .191/.257/.373 line over 230 journeys to the plate. His broader minor league monitor document is sort of a bit higher. The Venezuelan-born backstop is a .253/.303/.487 hitter in his Triple-A profession. He owns a .231/.263/.404 slash in 237 plate appearances towards large league pitching. He joins Blake Hunt on the 40-man roster as choices to again up Adley Rutschman, although an exterior acquisition nonetheless appears probably.
Ward, 27, pitched in 26 video games for the Nats final 12 months. Washington took him out of the Boston system within the Rule 5 draft. Like many Rule 5 picks, he struggled in his debut marketing campaign. The UCF product posted a 6.37 ERA with almost as many walks as strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. Washington saved him on elective project to Triple-A for the whole ’24 season. Ward began 28 video games however allowed a 5.64 ERA over 119 2/3 frames. He walked an untenable 17% of batters confronted.
Bowman bounced across the league by way of waivers earlier than ending the 12 months in Baltimore. The sinkerballer posted a 4.40 earned run common by way of 30 2/3 innings between 4 groups. He had a powerful 12 months in Triple-A and shouldn’t have any bother touchdown one other minor league deal this winter.
As for González, he earns a long-awaited choice to a 40-man roster. He turns 33 in January and has but to pitch within the majors. The Dominican Republic native has pitched in Japan, Mexico and even Italy throughout his winding profession arc. He labored his technique to the Orioles on a minor league deal and tossed 60 innings of 4.50 ERA ball with Triple-A Norfolk this previous season. González punched out almost 29% of batters confronted whereas strolling fewer than 5% of opponents.
These underlying numbers evidently impressed the Baltimore entrance workplace. Moderately than permit González to hit minor league free company, they’ll give him a spot on the 40-man for now. If he holds that every one winter, there’s an excellent probability he’ll make his main league debut subsequent 12 months.
