The Orioles made a series of significant roster changes on Saturday ahead of their doubleheader against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Outfielder Ramón Laureano was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain suffered during Tuesday’s loss to the Brewers. The move, retroactive to Wednesday, comes as another blow to an already injury-plagued Baltimore roster. In a corresponding move, the Orioles selected the contract of utility player Terrin Vavra from Triple-A Norfolk.
Later in the day, Baltimore designated left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez for assignment after a rough stretch on the mound. Right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo, also from Norfolk, was added to the 40-man roster, which now includes 39 players.
The Orioles’ 16-34 start has been marred by injuries to key contributors, including Colton Cowser (thumb), Jordan Westburg (hamstring), Tyler O’Neill (shoulder), and Grayson Rodriguez (elbow/lat), among others. Laureano had been one of the team’s more consistent offensive pieces, batting .266 with six home runs and an .852 OPS through 36 games. He ranks fourth on the team in bWAR (1.2).
Interim manager Tony Mansolino mentioned Saturday morning that Laureano was expected to run and test his ankle, but the team opted to place him on the IL shortly after.
Vavra, who was on the team’s medical taxi squad Saturday, hasn’t appeared in a major league game since 2023. He owns a .254 career batting average in 67 games and was hitting .317 with an .838 OPS at Triple-A this year. His 2023 season was disrupted by injuries and illness, but he re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league deal after a brief stint in the Mariners organization.
Pérez, who was once a top bullpen option for Baltimore, struggled mightily this season with an 8.31 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP over 19 appearances. He allowed five runs in just one inning during Friday’s blowout loss in Boston. He had his best season in 2022, when he posted a 1.40 ERA over 66 outings.
Hiraldo, who joined the Orioles organization last October after pitching in Mexico, had a 3.86 ERA across six games (one start) with Triple-A Norfolk before being called up.
