The Orioles have cleared room on their 40-man roster by outrighting right-handed pitchers David Hess, Branden Kline and Kohl Stewart and utilityman Andrew Velazquez to Triple-A Norfolk.
Stewart, who opted out of the 2020 season for medical reasons, was on the Covid-19 60-day injured list and not on the 40-man roster.
On Wednesday, catcher Bryan Holaday became a free agent.
The 40-man roster is at 32.
Hess has elected free agency, which was first reported by MASNsports.com and confirmed by an industry source. He was 4-20 with a 5.86 ERA from 2018-2020 with the Orioles. Hess was the team’s fourth-round draft choice in 2014.
Kline, who can declare for free agency because he was outrighted previously, was 1-4 with a 5.48 ERA in 37 games in 2019 and 2020. The Frederick native was the Orioles’ second-round pick in 2012. In three games this past season, Kline had a 1.80 ERA.
Velazquez, who played second base, shortstop, left and center field, hit .159 with three RBIs in 40 games.
The Orioles soon will activate Trey Mancini and infielder Richie Martin from the 60-day injured list and must decide whether they’ll pick up the $3.5 million option on shortstop José Iglesias for 2021. The decision on Iglesias must be made five days after the World Series.
Minor league signings: The Orioles re-signed six players to minor league contracts: catcher Taylor Davis, right-handed pitchers Marcos Díplan, Mickey Jannis and Ofelky Peralta, infielder Ryan Ripken and utilityman Stevie Wilkerson.
Wilkerson’s re-signing was previously reported.
Davis and Wilkerson have major league experience. Davis was at the Bowie alternate site throughout the 2020 season. Wilkerson missed the season because of a fractured finger.
Notes: Right-handed pitcher Carter Baumler, the Orioles’ fifth-round draft pick in 2020, underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday. The news was reported by MLB.com and confirmed by an industry source … Iglesias is one of nine shortstops nominated for the All-MLB Team. He’s the only Oriole on the ballot.
Question time: Next week, I’ll be answering your Orioles questions. Please leave your questions in the comment box or send them to me: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com
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Why don't the Orioles allow media access or provide their own stories and results from instructional league in Florida??
I’m always for media access, but there wasn’t any this year in the Instructionals.
Baseball was better at marketing in 1899 than it is now.
The owners nowadays just assume money will magically appear forever. God forbid the few fans who actually care find out what’s going on. World Series had the lowest ratings in a long time, maybe ever. Nothing seems to wake these owners up.
Thomas, as I wrote yesterday, World Series ratings were the lowest on record. However, because there are so many entertainment choices, live championship sports are attractive to networks. Turner recently signed a long-term agreement with MLB. FOX also has a long-term agreement, and while the ratings aren't what they were, they're still a useful vehicle to promote primetime programming on FOX.
How old is Ryan Ripken now? Is he really a prospect or do they just not wanna release him for obvious reasons?
Ryan Ripken is 27.