Orioles lose Burdi on waivers and outright Lakins

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

October 14, 2021, 1:59pm

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The Orioles began work this afternoon on a 40-man roster that must undergo significant changes to accommodate injured players and prospects eligible for the Rule 5 draft.

One spot opened up when reliever Zack Burdi was put on waivers and claimed today by the Diamondbacks. The 40-man now holds 39 players.

Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 30 and made his lone appearance with the Orioles on Sept. 6, tossing a scoreless inning against the Royals. He was optioned the next day.

The Orioles selected Burdi off waivers from the White Sox on Aug. 18.

Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. cleared outright waivers today and was assigned to Norfolk. Lakins already was removed from the 40-man roster after the Orioles put him on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury that required surgery in July to address a recurrent olecranon stress fracture.

The team expects Lakins to be ready for spring training, but he'll require an invitation to camp.

Lakins had five stints with the Orioles this season before they had to shut him down. He appeared in a career-high 24 games and registered a 5.79 ERA and 1.429 WHIP in 28 innings.

Lakins didn't allow an earned run in nine April games over eight innings.

The Orioles have six other players on the 60-day injured list, but Matt Harvey becomes a free agent after the World Series.

Room on the 40-man must be made for Keegan Akin, Hunter Harvey, Jorge LÃ³pez, Jorge Mateo and DJ Stewart.

Among the players eligible for selection in the Rule 5 draft if left unprotected are pitchers DL Hall, Kyle Bradish, Kevin Smith, Blaine Knight and Cody Sedlock, infielders Terrin Vavra and Adam Hall, and outfielder Robert Neustrom.