Items on Galvis, Leyba, Zimmermann, Wynns and Cumberland

The Orioles pretty much knew what they were getting with shortstop Freddy Galvis after signing him to a one-year contract in January. At the plate and on the field. They had the video, statistics, impressions made while watching from the opposite dugout.

The rest could be culled in discussions with former teams, the people closest to him professionally. From how he interacted with teammates in the past. His influence inside the clubhouse.

But it still had to be seen and heard.

Galvis was one of three veterans to speak up in the players meeting held during a 14-game losing streak, joining first baseman Trey Mancini and starter Matt Harvey. And it wasn't the first time he had the floor.

"A lot behind the scenes. He's a behind-the-scenes guy in a big way," manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday in a Zoom call.

"He's a huge voice in our clubhouse, kind of privately. You constantly see him talking to our players after games, and guys gravitate to him just because of the experience he has. He's got great info. So, whether it's about facing a pitcher, a situation that happened in the game, he's talking to our guys all the time. And he's been one of the first guys on the field, his work ethic on a daily basis is extremely professional. He's got an unbelievable routine in the cage and on the field, so guys can see that. He talks about it with some of our younger players.

"He's been such a pleasure to have on our team. You see him talking during games about the pitcher, telling guys what things to look for, etc. So, he's just been wonderful."

But will he be back?

Galvis can hit the free agent market again after the season. The Orioles are paying him $1.5 million, with a $250,000 bonus if he's traded.

The bag of trade chips would seem to include Galvis, who had two more hits yesterday at Tropicana Field to raise his average to .255 with 11 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 23 RBIs and a .773 OPS. His name is going to appear in deadline speculation. Any team that needs a shortstop. But the Orioles also could hold onto him, with no one jockeying to push him off the position, and figure out later what to do in 2022.

They could deal him and attempt to sign him again. Like they did with Mike Bordick in 2000, trading him to the Mets in July and handing him a two-year contract in December worth about $9.5 million.

It would take a lot less with Galvis.

The farm system is littered with shortstop prospects, but no one who projects for 2022, though Cadyn Grenier, who fell out of the Top 30, has been impressive with Double-A Bowie. Richie Martin shared the position with Jonathan Villar as a Rule 5 pick in 2019, but he missed the 2020 season with a fractured right wrist, had a broken hamate bone removed in January and is on the 60-day injured list with a fractured left wrist. Injuries that are stalling his development.

* The claiming of infielder Domingo Leyba off waivers from the Diamondbacks earlier this month appeared to be a warm body, filler type of move with injuries pecking holes in Triple-A Norfolk's roster. Leyba was 0-for-22 with Arizona this season. How much of an upgrade are we talking about here?

Jahmai Jones came off the injured list this week. Martin and Rylan Bannon remain on it. The Orioles recalled Ramón Urías on June 4, the same day that Leyba arrived, while Pat Valaika went on the bereavement list, and optioned him four days later.

Leyba was hitless in his Norfolk debut and homered in the next three games, including a grand slam. He delivered a three-run shot on Friday, giving him 10 RBIs since joining the organization. He was 7-for-14 in those three games.

The 25-year-old switch-hitter, who went 0-for-4 last night, is primarily a second baseman but also plays shortstop and third. Worth keeping an eye on him.

* Rookie Bruce Zimmermann is making his 12th appearance this afternoon. He's surrendered a home run in 10, including seven in a row.

Zimmermann's 12 home runs were tied for the 12th-highest total in the majors last night and put him one behind injured team leader John Means in 17 fewer innings. But the Loyola Blakefield graduate has lowered his ERA from 5.59 to 4.83 in his last three starts, with five runs allowed and 20 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.

He's also won his last three decisions, if you place any importance on such things.

The splits this season are spun. Left-handed hitters are 15-for-45 (.333) and right-handers are 47-for-170 (.276), though they've accounted for 10 of the home runs.

* Austin Wynns had his contract selected by the Orioles because he was swinging a hot bat at Norfolk, but most important, they really liked his work behind the plate.

His defense, his handling of a pitching staff. And the energy he injects in a clubhouse.

The grand slam he hit yesterday was a bonus.

Did you know that Wynns achieved a career high in RBIs with one swing?

Or that he provided the seventh slam by a No. 9 hitter in club history? The last was Brian Roberts on Aug 23, 2013 against the Athletics.

* Let's close the morning with something kind of weird.

Norfolk catcher Brett Cumberland has been hit by a pitch in seven consecutive games and 11 of 13 dating back to May 26. He didn't play last night, so the streak lives.

Cumberland leads minor league baseball with 13 to raise his career total to 90.

This isn't a recent development in Cumberland's career. He was hit 41 times in 2017.

You've heard of batters being on top of the plate. I'm wondering whether Cumberland actually sets up a folding chair.

The Braves traded Cumberland, Zimmermann, Evan Phillips and JC Encarnacion to the Orioles for pitchers Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day. They should have thrown in a couple of ice packs.