The Orioles could soon welcome John Means back for his season debut. Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters yesterday the O’s were considering activating Means to start on Sunday against the A’s (X link via the Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich). The left-hander has been on the injured list all year, as the team opted to build him up slowly this spring. While Means made four starts late last year in his return from Tommy John surgery, he experienced residual elbow soreness that kept him off the postseason roster.
Means would likely have found himself on some kind of innings limit after throwing 31 2/3 combined frames between 2022-23. With that in mind, the O’s opted against pushing him this spring. The 2019 All-Star has started five games at Triple-A Norfolk on a rehab stint. The results have not been good, as he’s allowed 18 runs over 11 2/3 innings. The O’s probably aren’t especially concerned, though, as the southpaw’s primary focus has been building his workload. He got to 79 pitches over 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday.
If Baltimore decides to give Means one more rehab appearance, righty Albert Suárez would likely take the ball on Sunday. The 34-year-old has twirled 11 1/3 scoreless innings in two starts since the O’s selected his contract last week. Suárez couldn’t have asked for much better in his return to the big leagues for the first time in seven years. Whether it’ll be enough to hold a roster spot once Means is ready isn’t clear, but Suárez has outpitched fellow back-end arms Dean Kremer and Cole Irvin in a very limited look.
Despite the long layoff between his big league appearances, Suárez is out of options. Baltimore can’t send him back to Norfolk without first exposing him to waivers. Irvin is also out of options, but the O’s could theoretically send Kremer down if they want to ensure all three pitchers stay in the organization.
They could also nudge one of those players to the bullpen. Baltimore’s roster flexibility is limited in that regard as well, though. Five of the eight current members of their bullpen — Craig Kimbrel, Danny Coulombe, Mike Baumann, Jacob Webb and recent trade pickup Yohan Ramírez — can’t be sent down. Neither Yennier Cano nor Keegan Akin are going to be optioned. Unless the O’s were to option grounder specialist Dillon Tate, they could soon need to DFA one of their out-of-options arms.
That might happen once lefty Cionel Pérez returns to the big league club. He landed on the 15-day IL with a moderate oblique strain shortly after Opening Day. The Orioles sent him to Norfolk on a rehab stint yesterday, suggesting he’ll be back in the next week or two. Pérez, who is also out of options, turned in a 3.54 ERA behind a massive 60.7% ground-ball percentage over 53 1/3 innings last season.
The news out of Norfolk isn’t all injury related. Ryan McKenna was assigned outright after clearing waivers at the start of the regular season. Danielle Allentuck of the Baltimore Banner tweets that the career-long outfielder has started taking reps at second base in an effort to expand his defensive flexibility. While McKenna has not appeared there in a game yet, successfully acclimating to the infield could give him a better chance of cracking a loaded Baltimore bench at some point during the season.
Get rid of Ramirez
Baumann may not be for long either.
Baumann stinks, I would DFA him. If he gets claim then it’s not much of a loss.
Those are easily the two first choices for DFAs.
I’ve always thought means was an underrated pitcher, even though he doesn’t get a ton of k’s he doesn’t allow many runs (and threw a no hitter which I clearly remember)
A good problem to have, too much pitching. Somebody will get hurt, they always do. Go O’s !
A very good O’s squad is about to get better.
Has the writer ever actually followed the Orioles? There is zero chance that Dean Kremer is going to minors. Ridiculous comment.
Don’t let the rage cloud your vision. That’s how Anakin was lost to the dark side of the Force.
The writer clearly said they could “theoretically” send him down because he has an option as a way to keep all three pitchers in the organization. So wether they do or don’t send him down, it is an option, something the writer clearly stated.
No great loss if Webb goes, either.
Better than Baumann and Ramirez combined. It would be a loss if he’s the one given the boot over those two.
Leaks baserunners, if you haven’t already noticed. Makes Yennier look like a model of consistency.
DFA Irvin. He’s horrible
Not sure he “twirled” 11 scoreless innings. More like “hurled”. Pitcher, not a ballerina.
McKenna? 2nd base? Os already gave a super sub down in minors who has proven to be an adequate MLB hitter. Vavra! Once going on with Vavra?
I know, right. Just what we need….another utility second baseman. I’d leave him alone. He’s a defensive specialist in the outfield. The guy is stuck on a team where there’s no position for him.
Vavra cant stay healthy. Last I heard he was trying to learn to catch in an attempt to become more of a utility player.
As for Mckenna at 2nd. If we want RH platoon bat for 2nd we have Norby. I also dont see Mckenna being a better IF/OF super utility than Mateo.
And Bradish seems close to coming back as well – As one commenter said, a good problem to have
Suarez to the pen, Baumann is the odd man out
I wouldn’t bump Suarez to the pen, MLB hitters still can’t figure out his stuff. Irvin and Kremer are generic back end guys, just move one to long relief and see if Suarez still can pitch well for you.
I wouldn’t count on much from Means either.
Irvin was better in the ‘pen than he was in the rotation last year. This year Irvin’s had 2 bad starts that are not MLB-rotation worthy, one that was meh but only 4.2 innings and his last one was good. Give Suarez the chance as he’s had 2 good ones.
There’s good Kremer and bad Kremer. He’s had 1 great start, 1 good one, two ok ones, and one really bad one that is dragging down his overall body of work. He’s shown more than Irvin.
Plus Means is no guarantee. If he’s back, great, he’ll get outs and be effective. If not, there are options.
Having pitching options is not a bad thing, but in order for the Orioles to get over the top, they need more in the rotation. Luckily they’ve been hoarding prospects like the people on that show hoard newspaper and junk, so they should be able to address that in July.
Kremer has also gotten screwed by inherited runners his last couple starts. I think he has gotten credited with 4 runs on his last 2 starts from the bullpen allowing HR’s as soon as he leaves the game with runners on with 2 outs. The 6 IP 1-2 ER lines look a lot better than the 6 IP 3-4 ER lines.