Orioles place Suárez on 60-day injured list, trade for Wolfram

The Orioles won't have pitcher Albert Suárez for much longer than anticipated.

Suárez was moved to the 60-day injured list today with a right subscapularis strain to create room on the 40-man roster for left-hander Grant Wolfram, acquired from the Brewers in exchange for Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Daz Cameron and cash considerations.

The subscapularis is the largest and strongest muscle of the rotator cuff and is essential in shoulder movement and in helping maintain glenohumeral joint stability.

The Orioles broke camp with Suárez in their bullpen and he allowed an earned run and two total with five hits in 2 2/3 innings in a March 28 appearance in Toronto. His fastball velocity was down about two mph from its 2024 average speed, and he went on the 15-day IL March 30 with right shoulder inflammation.

Left-hander Cade Povich beat out Suárez for the fifth spot in the rotation. Suárez is out of options and capable of going multiple innings in relief, which made a return to the bullpen a logical move for the Orioles.

Suárez was one of the more valuable players on last year’s team with his 3.70 ERA in 32 games, including 24 starts for a club battered by injuries. He hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2017 with the Giants, with his career winding through Japan and Korea.

The injured list already included pitchers Grayson Rodriguez, Andrew Kittredge, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, Trevor Rogers and Chayce McDermott, and outfielder Colton Cowser. Catcher Samuel Basallo, the top prospect in the system and No. 13 in baseball, is on the seven-day IL with Norfolk.

Rodriguez was scheduled to throw a regular bullpen session today at Camden Yards.

Wolfram, 28, was designated for assignment earlier today after the Brewers traded for Quinn Priester. The former 18^th-round draft pick of the Rangers hasn’t pitched in the majors and the Orioles optioned him to Norfolk today. He made two relief appearances with Triple-A Nashville and allowed two runs and one hit with four walks and three strikeouts in three innings.

The Brewers called up Wolfram on April 6 and optioned him the following day.

Wolfram made 44 appearances with Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers organization last year and had a 3.34 ERA with 26 walks and 61 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. He owns a career 3.99 ERA in seven minor league seasons and has averaged 4.6 walks and 11 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Orioles re-acquired Cameron from the Athletics on Oct. 31 for cash considerations and he was 4-for-18 with a double and six strikeouts with Norfolk.