Not much roster clarity for Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles break camp in less than three weeks, proving again that spring training moves just as fast as the offseason.

Are we any closer to figuring out the 26-man roster? Not really. The club hasn’t made a particular move that serves as a spoiler.

We know that Sam Hilliard fell out of the outfield competition quickly, returning to the Rockies on a waiver claim. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias gave us more to think about by signing pitcher Julio Teheran and second baseman Kolten Wong to minor league contracts.

It’s an absolute possibility that the Orioles bring both players to Baltimore, Teheran perhaps in long relief and Wong as this year’s version of Adam Frazier – at least to begin the season. Frazier lasted through all of it rather than serve as a placeholder.

Jackson Holliday says, “Hold my non-alcoholic beverage.”

The kid had three hits yesterday in Clearwater, coming within a home run of the cycle. He’s batting .333 with a .983 OPS and showing that he can play second base.

James McCann’s oblique isn’t barking. The club should be set with its catchers, and happy with Michael Pérez and Maverick Handley as insurance and Samuel Basallo as one of the game’s fast-rising prospects whose elbow fracture isn’t worrisome.

The starting outfield remains intact with Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander going left to right. A fourth or fifth remains a camp mystery – which number and which player or players.

The “improved stock” category includes Kyle Stowers, who has made impressive gains since reporting and is in the thick of the competition, and Colton Cowser, who went 2-for-4 yesterday, looks a lot better than he did last year with the Orioles and is in the thick of the competition. Their ability to play all three positions works in their favor.

Ryan McKenna does it, too, with speed off the bench and a right-handed bat. And he can’t be optioned.

Gunnar Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O’Hearn and Jordan Westburg should feel safe having their equipment shipped to Baltimore. But is Wong or Holliday providing the left-handed bat at second? Do Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo co-exist on the roster, with the latter maybe a fifth outfielder?

We didn’t know a week ago and we don’t know today.

My mock rotation looks like so many others: Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin. Teheran could crash the party, but he makes sense as a long reliever/swingman if he’s getting outs. There’s a $2 million major league payday waiting for him.

The Orioles did their homework on Teheran, who starts tonight, knowing that he was offsetting reduced fastball velocity with an effective cutter and slider. The feedback from hitters, whether in winter ball or batting practice sessions with other major leaguers, has been positive. Made sense to get him into camp at another low-risk deal.

Craig Kimbrel, Yennier Cano, Danny Coulombe and Cionel Pérez would bring the relief total to five. Mike Baumann should make it six. Dillon Tate could make it seven despite his two options, because he was one of the Orioles’ best relievers in 2022 and has been sharp this spring.

Jacob Webb entered camp as a favorite to make the club, but he allowed two runs and four hits and walked a batter in his first three exhibition innings, if that matters. There’s also Bruce Zimmermann, Keegan Akin, Bryan Baker, Andrew Suárez, Albert Suárez, Nick Vespi, Kaleb Ort and Matt Krook.

Andrew Suárez has registered five scoreless innings with just one hit allowed in his first three appearances. Albert Suárez tossed three scoreless innings yesterday against the Phillies, walking none and striking out seven.

That’s right, seven. With a four-seam fastball in the high 90s.

He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2017 with the Giants. Where do the Orioles find these guys?

It ain’t dumpster diving. It’s good scouting and trust in your pitching program. A little luck doesn’t hurt, either.

Cade Povich, Chayce McDermott and Justin Armbruester aren’t making the team, which was assumed but later became confirmed. Keep developing them in Triple-A. McDermott recorded two scoreless relief innings yesterday.

Seth Johnson also won’t break camp with the Orioles and that also was assumed after his Tommy John surgery in 2022 and because he’s only made one appearance above the Class A level. But watch this guy. He seemed like a steal in the three-team trade at the 2022 deadline, despite the pending elbow procedure.

A prospect who was worth the wait.

“It’s a guy that’s got a really, really good arm,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “The rehab has gone extremely well, and he’s throwing the ball really well out here. A really talented kid.”

Hyde has used “really impressive major league starter stuff” to describe what he’s seeing from Johnson. Maybe it will be displayed later this summer at Camden Yards.

McDermott also was acquired in that three-team trade, which sent the very popular Trey Mancini to the Astros while the Orioles were in contention. Povich and Yennier Cano also were acquired at the deadline for the very popular Jorge López. Still with the Orioles in contention.

You may recall the fan backlash and Mike Elias’ trip down to Arlington, Texas to speak with the club and the media.

Those two days now appear to be big wins for the Orioles, who would shock the baseball world if they didn't contend again this summer after posting the best record in the American League last year and making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.