Orioles trade VelÃ¡zquez to Astros for PTBNL (plus other notes)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

July 29, 2020, 8:37am

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Already outrighted off the 40-man roster and removed from the player pool, reliever Hector VelÃ¡zquez is now leaving the Orioles organization.

He never got to throw a pitch for them in a spring training, summer exhibition or regular season game.

The Orioles traded VelÃ¡zquez to the Astros this afternoon for a player to be named later.

Claimed off waivers from the Red Sox on March 8, VelÃ¡zquez managed to throw a bullpen session at the Ed Smith Stadium complex before baseball shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

His work after baseball resumed was limited to intrasquads and live batting practice.

The Orioles optioned VelÃ¡zquez to the alternate camp site at Bowie on July 14 and outrighted him 10 days later after he cleared waivers. He began the summer training camp as a candidate for a long relief role.

This is executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias' first trade with his former organization.

* Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, the No. 2 prospect in the system per MLBPipeline.com, was added today to the 60-man player pool and assigned to the alternate camp site in Bowie.

The Orioles have 56 players in the pool.

Rodriguez won't make his major league debut later this summer, but he can gain valuable experience and tutelage at Prince George's Stadium.

* The starting time for Thursday night's game between the Orioles and Yankees at Camden Yards has been changed.

First pitch is 7:05 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Tonight's game remains at 7:35 p.m.