Making another run at Orioles roster expansion

The Orioles are finishing their homestand this afternoon, taking a day off and embarking on a three-city road trip that begins in Arizona.

The move into a new month, the last full one before the playoffs, brings another set of important roster decisions.

Expansion to 28 is permitted on Friday, an extra pitcher and position player. A task that’s trickier with the choices coming from the minors and injured list.

This isn’t as routine as attaching two names. A few others will need to go.

Outfielder Aaron Hicks is hoping to be reinstated while the Orioles are in Anaheim for a series that starts Monday. He’s taking batting practice at “high velocity,” as he described it, and will be on the charter to the West Coast.

Adding Hicks could lead to subtracting Ryan McKenna again. The Ferrari parked in another garage.

McKenna started in left field Monday night and had a two-run single, walk and stolen base in a 9-0 victory. He came off the bench last night in the seventh inning, singled and stole a base, and scored on Anthony Santander's bases-loaded double.

“I wanted to give Haysie (Austin Hays) a day off, and Mac’s a good guy, a great option when someone needs a day off because of the outfield defense he plays,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“He adds a lot to our club from the standpoint of, one, his makeup is fantastic. Two, he’s a plus defender at three spots in the outfield, so you don’t lose anything defensively. And he can run. … Mac brings a lot of energy to our club. When he gets a start, hopefully he can give us a little spark.”

If there’s room for him.

The Orioles might want to add infielder Joey Ortiz to provide another skilled glove to a defense that’s been exceptional. He’s versatile, too, and he’s been up a few times.

I’ll say again that I’d expect him in Baltimore before No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday, but I’ve been wrong before.

There’s also the possibility of outfielder Colton Cowser getting another chance, perhaps over Heston Kjerstad because he’s also made his debut and he can play center field.

A recent comment about Kjerstad from executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias gained a lot of traction but needs to be put in context. Elias confirmed that Kjerstad had “entered the conversation” for a call-up, but he was asked specifically about the former first-round pick. It wasn’t unsolicited. But it appears that way if you just read the quote.

Elias also said that “there are other position players, too, who could make sense,” and added how Kjerstad “hasn’t necessarily gone through or seen everything that he could or will see in Triple-A, so it’s still not a waste from a development standpoint that he’s getting those at-bats.”

So, yes, Kjerstad could have his contract selected, which would require a corresponding 40-man roster move. He’s having an outstanding season and deserves consideration. No argument here. But also, Elias isn’t going to publicly state that a young player won’t come up. He hasn’t done it with Holliday, either. Doors aren’t usually slammed shut like that.

On the pitching side, Tyler Wells is primed for a bullpen role. John Means is primed for a bullpen role or a return to the rotation. That’s two.

Mike Baumann, Bryan Baker, Joey Krehbiel and Nick Vespi are counted among the other possibilities, a tier below Wells and Means.

DL Hall would have stood at the top tier except his arrival came early as Félix Bautista’s replacement.

Keegan Akin moved to the 60-day injured list and hasn’t pitched since Aug. 3 in Norfolk. Dillon Tate hasn’t pitched since 2022. They remain on the outside.