Waiting for Soto update and looking back at deadline day acquisitions

So, anything going on today?

We’re still waiting for an outcome with infielder Livan Soto, who was designated for assignment on Jan. 10 when the Orioles claimed right-hander Roansy Contreras on waivers from the Reds.

A week has passed, which could bring an announcement later today. Catcher René Pinto was designated on Jan. 3 and the Diamondbacks claimed him on the 10^th. But catcher Blake Hunt was designated Monday, and the Orioles traded him to the Mariners Wednesday for cash considerations.

In one of those baseball twists, the Orioles designated Contreras for assignment yesterday while claiming infielder Jacob Amaya, a former top 30 prospect, on waivers from the White Sox.

There will be a quiz later.

Soto would be a good fallback option in the minors if he cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment. He can play all over the infield, and he’s 27-for-77 (.351) in 35 major league games.

The Orioles acquired Soto and outfielder Austin Slater from the Reds for cash considerations at the July 30 trade deadline. Slater became a free agent and signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the White Sox.

It was a busy deadline day for the Orioles, who also traded minor league pitchers Seth Johnson and Moisés Chace to the Phillies for left-hander Gregory Soto, second baseman Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers to the Marlins for left-hander Trevor Rogers, minor league left-hander Trey McGough to the White Sox for outfielder Eloy Jiménez, and minor league outfielder Billy Cook to the Pirates for minor league pitcher Patrick Reilly. They also designated left-handers Cole Irvin and Matt Krook for assignment.

Jiménez signed a minor league deal with the Rays after going 1-for-24 in September, with a hamstring injury limiting him to designated hitter duty. Irvin was outrighted on Aug. 4 and the Twins claimed him on waivers Sept. 16. He signed with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. The Athletics signed Krook to a minor league deal in November.  

Gregory Soto will report to camp as one of the eight relievers projected to head north after signing for $5.35 million to avoid arbitration. He allowed two earned runs in his last 20 appearances. Rogers will vie for a rotation spot and could rejoin Triple-A Norfolk’s rotation if he fails. He's working to bounce back from his four disappointing starts.

MLB Pipeline ranks Reilly as the No. 13 prospect in the organization. He registered a 3.73 ERA and held opponents to a .194 average in eight appearances with Double-A Bowie.

The most impactful trade approaching the deadline delivered starter Zach Eflin to the Orioles on July 26 for minor leaguers Jackson Baumeister, Matthew Etzel and Mac Horvath. He posted a 2.60 ERA in nine starts and could get the Opening Day assignment in Toronto, with his present competition narrowed to Grayson Rodriguez.

Eflin made his first career Opening Day start last year.

* If anyone out there is watching “Pop Culture Jeopardy” on Amazon Prime, you saw a trio from Baltimore called “Adley Clutchmans” that chose its name after going to school in Baltimore, becoming huge Orioles fans, and claiming that the All-Star catcher is its favorite player.

Host Colin Jost from “Saturday Night Live” didn’t get the reference. They had to explain it to him.

My suggestion: Invite Jost to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards, with Rutschman catching it. Jost can bring along wife Scarlett Johansson.