Though the Orioles traded for a minor-league reliever on Monday, the move made to create a spot on the 40-man roster only raised concerns about the current state of their pitching.
Baltimore acquired left-hander Grant Wolfram from Milwaukee in exchange for minor-league outfielder Daz Cameron and cash considerations, but right-hander Albert Suarez was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create roster space. Initially placed on the 15-day IL on March 30 with right shoulder inflammation, the 35-year-old Suarez has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of the subscapularis, which is the largest and strongest muscle in the rotator cuff. Speaking to reporters in Arizona before Monday’s series opener, manager Brandon Hyde said Suarez will miss “hopefully just a few months.”
It’s another tough blow to a pitching staff that lost starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez and reliever Andrew Kittredge to multi-week injuries during spring training. Pitching in the majors for the first time since 2017, Suarez became one of Baltimore’s best starters last season with a 3.70 ERA over 133 2/3 innings, which ranked second on the club behind only Corbin Burnes. Suarez began the new season in the bullpen after a rough Grapefruit League, and his velocity was down in his only appearance on March 28 with manager Brandon Hyde revealing a few days later that the veteran had begun receiving treatment for shoulder soreness late in spring and had trouble getting loose before entering that game in Toronto.
Optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after being acquired from the Brewers, the 28-year-old Wolfram has yet to make his major league debut and was just designated for assignment by the Brewers. He pitched to a 3.34 ERA in 56 2/3 innings for Triple-A Round Rock last season, averaging 9.7 strikeouts, 4.1 walks, and 0.8 home runs allowed per nine innings. He owns a career 3.99 ERA over parts of seven minor-league seasons after being selected by Texas in the 18th round of the 2018 draft out of Davenport University.
It’s notable that Wolfram provides another southpaw option on the 40-man roster with lefty reliever Cionel Perez off to a poor start this season. Perez, 28, has already allowed eight earned runs — one fewer than he allowed over the entire 2022 season — over four appearances covering 3 2/3 innings.
