Ever-changing Orioles roster likely to remain in flux

CHICAGO—The Orioles’ season is just over a month old, and they’ve already made a dizzying number of moves. It’s likely to continue.

On Monday, the Orioles recalled pitcher Yefry Ramirez from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as the bullpen’s long man. It’s likely that Ramirez will be on hand for only one game.

Luis Ortiz was summoned from Norfolk to give the bullpen some depth before Sunday’s game. After the team announced the acquisition of right-hander Shawn Armstrong on waivers, Ortiz was returned to the Tides.

Armstrong, who is scheduled to be here on Tuesday, could supplant Ramirez, who has watched his teammates get called up.

“I had expectations that this may come at some point,” Ramirez said through a translator.

Entering Monday’s game, the Orioles had used 36 players in 29 games. In 2018, a franchise record 56 players were used, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Orioles surpassed that this season. The 2014 Texas Rangers hold the major league record of using 64 players in a season, and it’s possible the Orioles could challenge that, too.

Of the current 25-man roster, eight players weren’t on the Opening Day roster — pitchers Ramirez, Branden Kline, Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott, Dan Straily, Gabriel Ynoa, catcher Austin Wynns and utilityman Stevie Wilkerson.

Manager Brandon Hyde expects the revolving door to continue, especially among relievers.

“We’re young. We’re inexperienced,” Hyde said. “Our starting rotation hasn’t given us a ton of length. So, there’s a lot of innings to be had out of the bullpen, so you’re going to see a lot of movement.”

Some of the higher profile players on the Opening Day roster are no longer around. Jesus Sucre, who was the starting catcher when the season opened, was designated for assignment on Sunday.

Mike Wright, who saved the second game of the season, was traded last week to Seattle for minor league infielder Ryne Ogren.

Centerfielder Cedric Mullins, who was the leadoff hitter at Yankee Stadium on March 28, was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk on April 22 with an .094 average.

Two of the team’s three Rule 5 draft choices, pitcher Pedro Araujo and utilityman Drew Jackson, were gone within the season’s first 10 days. Araujo was reacquired from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for international bonus money.

Dan Straily, who was out of baseball when the season began, was signed on April 5 and inserted into the starting rotation.

Alex Cobb, who was on the injured list when the season began, has returned to the IL twice since then because of a back injury.

Nate Karns, who was signed to be a starter in early February, pitched four times — twice as an opener — before experiencing forearm tightness. He has been on the IL since April 8, and Monday was recalled from his rehab assignment at Bowie.

Richard Bleier, one of the most effective pitchers in the Orioles’ bullpen, is in Sarasota, working on rehabbing his right shoulder.

It’s shaping up to be a season of adjustments, and change.