The Orioles set their Opening Day roster Thursday, announcing that they’ve designated right-handers Alec Asher, Stefan Crichton, Michael Kelly and Jesus Liranzo for assignment. Their 40-man spots will go to Pedro Alvarez, Colby Rasmus, Craig Gentry and Danny Valencia. Mark Trumbo and Gabriel Ynoa, meanwhile, will open the season on the 10-day DL. Right-hander Alex Cobb will open the year in Double-A as he ramps up after signing late in Spring Training.
Asher, 26, appeared in 24 games for the O’s last season, including six starts, totaling 60 innings of work with a 47-to-23 K/BB. While Asher showed that he can work out of both the rotation or bullpen in multi-inning stints, he struggled to a 5.25 ERA and yielded 10 homers in last year’s 60 frames with the O’s. Asher does sport a quality 3.75 ERA in 170 1/3 innings of Triple-A work, where he’s averaged 6.4 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9. He has also has a minor league option remaining, so he could make sense for a team in need of some rotation depth.
Crichton, also 26, debuted with the Orioles last year, though he tossed just 12 1/3 innings in the Majors. In that brief sample, he yielded 11 runs on a whopping 26 hits and four walks with eight strikeouts and a 46 percent ground-ball rate. The former 23rd-rounder did average better than 94 mph on his heater in the bigs, though, and he logged a strong 3.02 ERA with 9.4 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and 0.38 HR/9 in 47 2/3 Triple-A innings. He has a pair of minor league options remaining.
The 25-year-old Kelly has never appeared in the big leagues, but he nonetheless scored a Major League contract from the O’s this past offseason on the heels of a strong Double-A showing with the Padres’ San Antonio affiliate in 2017. The former No. 48 overall pick worked to a 2.89 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 with a 44.2 percent ground-ball rate in 89 Double-A innings before being roughed up in his second go-around at the Triple-A level (albeit in an extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League setting).
Liranzo, 23, also comes without big league experience, but Baseball America ranked him 19th among Orioles farmhands this offseason. Liranzo isn’t lacking for velocity and has the upside of a quality bullpen piece, but he’s struggled with control throughout his pro career, including last season when he averaged six walks per nine innings pitched and posted an unsightly 4.85 ERA in 65 Double-A innings with the Orioles’ Bowie affiliate.
Each of Alvarez, Gentry and Valencia have been with the Orioles before. Alvarez’s stay with the team could be directly tied to Trumbo’s rehab, as each projects primarily as a DH. A brief experiment with Alvarez as an outfielder didn’t prove fruitful for the O’s last season, and they’re largely set at the infield corners as well. Gentry can back up at all three outfield spots and provide some speed off the bench, while Valencia provides a right-handed complement to Chris Davis as well as some insurance at third base and in the outfield corners.
As for Rasmus, it seems likely that he’ll receive fairly regular reps in right field after signing a minor league contract this winter. He showed well in a limited sample with the Rays last season before incurring an injury and ultimately stepping away from the game to be with his young family midway through the ’17 season.
Geez who would have thought that Pedro Alvarez, Colby Rasmus, Danny Valencia and Gentry would be on big league rosters on opening day. Blows my mind
I understand the last three quite well (defense and Khalid bat; utility guy with rhb that eats lefties; and speed and outfield defense) but not so much Álvarez. Guessing Buck wants power at the plate for late innings.
Khalid=lhb
Yeah I mean I understand the moves. But just the way the off-season went how so many players went unsigned and could be forced into retirement. I just was shocked these 4 made it onto a 25- man roster
Orioles usually do an exceptional job managing their roster. However, this year there seems to be less flexibility in terms of the potential for back and forth between the minors and the big league club. Several guys out of options, plus three Rule 5 guys. Santander only needs 44 days (though he’ll probably earn his way to stay at MLB level) and I just don’t see how they keep Cortes for the whole year.
I think he loses his spot to Cobb.
I think Mike Wright will be the odd man out. They’ll keep Cortez if he’s effective.
..Also Gentry will be the expendable as well. He could clear waivers and be added to Norfolk.
No Santandar will be the one sent down. They only have to keep him up for 44 days. With Gentrys defense there is no way he goes down. Santandar still needs work. Until he proves he should be up, Gentry is fine.
I don’t think the organizational thinking is that Santander needs work. That could change of course if he starts off poorly — but I believe the feeling all around is that he put in a lot of work this off-season, showed up to camp ready to play and very much did so.
Santander needs some work. Probably apparent today he was the only guy not to get off the bench. Would be surprised if he’s not the guy sent down in 44 days.
With lack of LH power bats Alvarez was probably always going to make it as a backup DH/1st baseman. He definitely has potential at being a solid power hitter in that ballpark. If Rasmus can keep his head in the game, he too can be a good hitter in that place. I hated when we signed him but when he keeps his head in it, he is good. Valencia kills LH pitching and we saw that his first time with us.
The Pirates used Pedro as their first baseman in 2015 after many years of looking for a good one.He was not a bad third baseman except he had serious throwing issues in 2014,so they moved him to first as they needed a first baseman in the worst way.
Pedro Alvarez was a first baseman in the worst way.
Rasmus and Valencia are solid MLB bench/platoon guys. Any other year prior to this one they’re not signing a minor league deal. Gentry and Alvarez probably both get sent off at some point this year when we’re at full strength. Alvarez for sure.
Not just on a major league roster, but even more unimpressively, on the SAME major league roster!
Wow four minor league contracts made their team? I wonder what the record for most is out of spring training
25; 2018 Tampa Bay Rays
Archer. Only 24.
Pedro vs Davis for a HR”………..give me Pedro
Pedro vs Davis for a K? Who ya got?
Both
Good win but we are in some trouble. Why Craig Gentry was our opening day RF I will never know. Rasmus has to be the guy. Desperately need a patient hitter added to this lineup.
I’m lost on Gentry over Rasmus while facing a RHP. But…. he made an amazing catch. I would think Rasmus will get the majority of innings in RF.
I’m lost on Gentry v a rhp on opening day. Gentry is a buck guy for sure. I don’t mind him he plays hard. He’s just not an opening day RF. Rasmus is a solid defensive Rf and can hit. I like Gentry as a d replacement and pinch runner but that’s about it. What we really need is a leadoff hitter that can get on base. I’m fine without speed but we need to add someone with some plate discipline. 13k’s today in a game started by Jake Odorizzi is not good. Can’t expect to win many games with the offense scoring 3 runs.
Nobody anywhere in the oriole farm system would have caught that ball from Berrios.
With absolutely anyone else in right field, that would’ve been a one to nothing score, and it would’ve been downhill from there, add in three hits that should’ve been errors, and it’s clear that Dan’s apathy towards defense is going to take a toll.
Valencia- Victim of the market. No superstar but He’s at least a solid major leaguer and has been one for a long time
Rasmus- only reason he was an NRI was because he sat in 17
Alvarez- Trumbo injury forced their hand
Gentry- I dont get that one. Would have rather seen them carey an extra RP like Joely.
Gentry makes plenty of sense. No one on our team can fill in CF except Gentry. If he goes another CF option has to come up.