The Orioles added outfielder Yusniel Diaz, right-handed pitchers Michael Baumann and Isaac Mattson, left-handers Zac Lowther and Alexander Wells and infielder Rylan Bannon to their 40-man roster on Friday.
The moves, which fill the 40-man roster, exempt the players from being selected in the December 10th Rule 5 draft.
To make room for the six players, the Orioles designated infielder/designated hitter Renato Núñez for assignment.
Diaz, a 24-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder, was acquired in the July 2018 trade that sent Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit .265 with 11 homers and 55 RBIs for Double-A Bowie, High-A Frederick and Short Season-A Aberdeen in 2019. Diaz spent 2020 at the alternate site in Bowie after the minor league season was canceled.
Diaz is the Orioles’ eighth-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and the highest-ranking one protected from the draft.
The 25-year-old Baumann, who was the Orioles’ third-round draft pick in 2017, also spent the summer at the alternate site before a flexor strain in his right arm ended his season. In 2019, Baumann was 7-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 24 games with Bowie and Frederick. He’s ranked ninth by MLB Pipeline.
Lowther, 24, was the Orioles’ second-round pick in 2017 and was 13-7 with a 2.55 ERA for the Baysox. Slowed by an oblique injury in 2020, he spent part of the summer at the Bowie alternate site. Lowther is ranked 11th by MLB Pipeline.
Mattson, 25, was one of four right-handed pitchers the Orioles obtained in the December 2019 trade with the Los Angeles Angels for Dylan Bundy. He’s not ranked by MLB Pipeline. Mattson was also at the alternate site in 2020.In 2019, he was 6-3 with a 2.33 ERA and a save for Triple-A Salt Lake, Double-A Mobile and High-A Inland Empire.
Bannon, 24, was also acquired in the Machado trade. He plays second and third base and was a late addition to the 60-man player pool last season. He hit .266 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs for Triple-A Norfolk and Bowie in 2019.
Wells, a 23-year-old Australian left-hander, was 8-6 with a 2.95 ERA in 2019 for Bowie.
Núñez hit .256 with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs in 52 games for the Orioles in 2020. He was eligible for arbitration and didn’t appear to have a spot for 2021 with the return of Trey Mancini, who’s likely to play first, and a surplus of outfielders who also could be used as designated hitters.
Among those left unprotected are infielder Mason McCoy and right-hander Zach Pop.
Others ranked in the top 30 who were left unprotected are right-handed pitcher Brenan Hanifee (27th), left-handed pitcher Drew Rom (23rd), and right-hander Cody Sedlock (26th). Sedlock was the Orioles’ top draft choice in 2016.
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Renato we hardly knew ya
Reeeaaaaallllly.......He kept Alex Wells? The boy genius must finally be reading BB.com/BRR!
How d'ya like them apples #1?
Well, come on BRR--you are a Legend and your insight is finally being heard within the Warehouse..
It is pleasantly surprising that they protected Wells.. I like him and am happy to see that they protected him. The Front Office must see something in him...
Sedlock has been a big disappointment. Hopefully he can get himself turned around.. This really is the key here. The player is ultimately the one responsible for getting things on the right path. The Coaching (which the Orioles have turned from a big negative to a big plus) is really important, but at the end of the day it is the player's responsibility to get things going in the right direction. Ask John Means...
I'm a legend in my own mind.
:)...go O’s...
I love apples, apple pie, applesauce and I love the selections moved onto the 40! All great moves and that makes 10 more rookies added the last 2 years! Keep them coming Mike just like you stated, having the best pipeline in baseball! And sorry to burst your bubble brr but he didn't add Wells because of you, he added Wells because he's been a terrific pitcher so far in his young career!
I dunno Onesy ... it's pretty coincidental. Soon after I wrote that...it happened!! I'm thinking that my "scouting" must have had some influence on the call don't you think?
Everybody and their grandmother had that same list right before the deadline and that's not called "scouting". I had that same list back a month and a half ago and I didn't "scout" that either. So, no "scouting" was done by you, and no coincidence, just you being a copycat as I see it! But a nice try. FYI: Btw, you can't recruit or discover a player that's already in the Orioles organization. The definition of "scouting". Pick up a dictionary!
Cutting & pasting, good god lighten up Francis, funny, you only contradict or badger 2 people on this site...you’re the worste...lol...go O’s...
Just 2 or 3 weeks ago, you called yourself the "Superscout Mort" when you lied about your 8 year Fantasy Football Championship streak silly boy. Or should I say ... Superscout Mort? Of course that was tied to your lie about playing both div I baseball and basketball.
No lies. You're just jealous jelly boy!!! Picking the protection list of players already on the Orioles IS NOT SCOUTING!!! Read what the word/term "baseball scout" means! God you're a moron. My 8 year fantasy football streak is legit and I don't care what you believe. My friends in my league call me Mort because of my streak. And again I don't care what you believe, from playing ball in division I to anything else.
You also lied about your team "coding" a type ahead routine for mobile devices. I'm an industry insider .. I know that was a lie.
I lied about nothing!!! My company phone has an app designed by us that auto-fills words as you type. Now I'll make a deal with you, I'll bring all my accolades to where ever you are and prove it to you. And when I'm proved right, I get to punch your lights out. Deal?
Back to punching me out.
So you work for a "company" now? What ever happened to having a government job Mr. Liar-pants?
BTW ... how's that sister of yours doing? Still plan on getting married to her?
Same reason we call you Richard, it’s your streak...lol...you’re pathetic Mortimer...go O’s...
What I find pathetic, is that this guy evidently keeps a "list". Seriously?
Everything about him is pathetic, mommas boy, shows up here once in awhile to try to impress people & claim his allegiance to Elias, while trying to make Duqette look bad...he really is easy to piss of, makes it fun...go O’s...
What's pathetic is your career. I don't gave to try to impress my creds do that for me. You're just another jealous azz jelly boy! And what I do for fun is punch out punks like you. And I didn't have to make DD look bad, he did that all on his own. Time and place...
You didn't address my question about working for a company now when a few weeks ago, you claimed to have a great government job? Which is it Mr. Liar Pants? (you really need to keep your stories/lies straight)
And as far as your auto-complete routine.. around here ...you're typing on the BB.com App. Not some custom chat on your phone. Unless your company/government position (which is it?) has hooks into the BB.com app, you're caught in another lie.
Now come punch me out if that makes you feel better. Because all "coders" as you call yourself, are tough guy types.
My government job has a company phone contract moron!!! And we get to use them along with company cars which is another luxury. But we get to put our software on them. Mr lyer pants. The government sometimes farms out things like that! Geez you really are a moron!!!
Lies, tell me more lies. Governments programmers don't write apps for phones. And you said the app was "designed by us". Clear as day you're caught in yet another lie.
One more thing ...you spelled "lyer" wrong. Your phone app must suck. Some may say it's the "worste". Bwahahhahaah
And how does your app hook into BB.Com? Didn't still failed to explain that one Mr. LIAR-Pants.
Threatening people on here should be enough to get you banned, like Bob said, but believe me, I’m living very comfortably, great wife (not my sister), great kid, great career, but I never threaten people...take a hike w/your sister & stories...lmao, you’re entertainment at its “worste”...go O’s...
Calling someone "pathetic" is enough to getting your azz kicked. And hiding behind your posts only shows your a coward also. I'm married to a beautiful woman now and starting my new life. I'll leave "marrying your sister" to you since you went there and denied it. And I'm sure minimum wage is really comfortable for you and your so called "family". What you reap is what you sowed!
"YOU'RE" not your. Same mistakes over and over and over. Sheeeesh.
And why exactly didn't your app catch that one? Bwahahaaahahhaaa.
Wrong again - your azz, your posts, your sister and your family are all correct you moron. You're a real moron. See it works just fine you wannabe Boog Powell moron! Looking for a liar then look in the mirror!
I quote you .... 2 levels up ....
"shows YOUR a coward also" ....DUHHHHHHHH
That is supposed to be "YOU'RE a coward". You missed that one 'eh Einstein?
You can't win Superscout Mort! Buh Bye.
Now my list also included pitcher and possible Orioles future closer Zach Pop coming off Tommy John surgery being added to the 40 man roster. My concern was the expanded roster for next year with the pandemic still hanging its ugly head and possibly the Pirates taking him. I had the Orioles dfa either Cole Sulser or Pat Valaika.
"hanging its ugly head" .... ugghhhh. There you go, butchering a cliche' once more. It's "REAR its' ugly head". hee hee hee
I'd love to read your office memos. Too funny I imagine.
Wasn't trying to use a cliche'!!! You moron. And the only "REAR" is your big azz on this sight. Talk about lying - news flash for you - You're not Boog Powell so stop using his picture!!!
No you absolutely WERE trying to use the cliche'. You and I both know it.
What? I'm not the real Boog? Really? Now EVERYBODY knows. Dang.
I didn't badger him Palsey. He stated "How d’ya like them apples #1?" And I just replied. Geez, get a life! And brr can reply back without you coming to his rescue so shut up!
Didn’t come to his rescue BOB, he can take care of himself & I know that I can...go ahead & say something else that can be deleted...go O’s...
You're just a out of work clown, palsey. Nothing worth discussing with you. And you're the BOB, punk!
...go O’s...