Orioles ready for more roster retooling

The unpredictability of baseball, and so often the Orioles organization, were on full display again yesterday. Trying to guess along is a dangerous game, bound to burn its participants.

News leaked that the Orioles were optioning corner infielder Coby Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk, and the immediate assumption had utility infielder Ramón Urías rejoining the club from the 10-day injured list. Two rehab games at Triple-A Norfolk, where Urías homered Friday night, seemed sufficient.

I jumped to that conclusion so hard that I may have qualified for the next Olympics.

Instead, the Orioles selected outfielder Daniel Johnson’s contract from Norfolk because Cedric Mullins’ status was uncertain due to the neck soreness that kept him on the bench Friday night. Mullins and right fielder Austin Slater attempted diving catches simultaneously the previous night and collided.  

Johnson made sense based on the circumstances, but Urías’ return is imminent, perhaps by this morning. Urías and Jordan Westburg were removed from last night’s game by design in the fifth inning. It’s just a matter of which players are bumped from the roster.

Urías at first blush seemed to make Livan Soto expendable, except that one bats from the right side and the other from the left. But honestly, who cares? Urías has better career splits against right-handers anyway, though not this year.

Johnson, obviously, is on borrowed time since Mullins dodged the injured list. Having Terrin Vavra on the 24-hour taxi squad yesterday was infield coverage after Mayo departed. But Urías could be reinstated today and Johnson optioned, with Vavra also heading back down.

Much of it depended on Mullins yesterday. Now it depends on Urías and there doesn't seem to be anything holding him back.

Westburg, who homered last night, figured to be a step behind Urías because he hadn’t played in the majors since July 31, exactly one month before Urías sprained his right ankle in Colorado. Soto keeps skating on thin ice. He, too, could make the Olympics.  

That brings us to Ryan Mountcastle, who sprained his left wrist on Aug. 22. Mountcastle played in his second rehab game last night, again going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. If he’s cleared for reinstatement, he threatens to nudge Eloy Jiménez or Emmanuel Rivera from the roster if they're still on it.

Jiménez wasn’t in the lineup again last night and is 1-for-24 this month as a designated hitter or pinch-hitter. He isn’t playing in the field. The Orioles like Rivera’s defense at third base and he’s hit a little, collecting two singles and a sacrifice fly yesterday. But the roster crunch sounds like a bowl of granola.

Another factor is the crafting of the playoff roster in the first round. Players who aren’t projected to be on it become more expendable. Just ask Craig Kimbrel.

The Orioles hold $16.5 million and $18.5 million options on Jiménez’s contract, inherited from the White Sox, and could move on from him. It’s all relevant in this exercise.

I’m working under the assumption that Jackson Holliday stays. We know what can happen, but I refuse to be intimidated by my past mistakes.

An early first-round postseason projection looks like this:

Catchers: Adley Rutschman and James McCann

Infielders: Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan O’Hearn, Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Ramón Urías

Outfielders: Anthony Santander, Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins, Austin Slater

I'll save you the trouble. That’s 12.

The Orioles could keep outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who made last year’s Division Series roster and didn’t get past the on-deck circle. He produced his first career three-hit game yesterday. They could hold onto Rivera or Soto, who won’t be eligible for the wild card round if optioned now, or recall Mayo if they want an extra infielder.

Kjerstad is my call this morning if pressed for a mock, but Rivera’s glove and improved numbers since leaving the Marlins, along with the maneuvering yesterday to keep Mayo eligible, sticks in my head. And it isn’t because of the gel.

The composition of the opponent’s pitching staff also can influence the roster, whether the Orioles want an extra left-handed or right-handed bat.

Grayson Rodriguez is the only pitcher who could be reinstated from the injured list and it’s highly questionable because he might not be stretched out to start. The Orioles would need to arrange simulated games to build up innings with Norfolk’s season concluding today.

Rodriguez isn’t facing hitters in live batting practice. He’s just throwing in the bullpen. Maybe he's a reliever. Maybe he's a possibility for the Division Series roster if the Orioles qualify.

The first-round locks appear to be Corbin Burnes, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Albert Suárez, Seranthony Domínguez, Danny Coulombe, Yennier Cano, Cionel Pérez, Jacob Webb, Gregory Soto, Keegan Akin and Matt Bowman. Rodriguez would make 13. Otherwise, those under consideration include rookie Cade Povich, Bryan Baker and Trevor Rogers.