BALTIMORE — With third baseman Manny Machado awaiting a decision on an appeal of a five-game suspension and starting pitcher Bud Norris still dealing with groin soreness, the Orioles are preparing to shuffle their roster over the next several days with various scenarios in play.
Machado had his hearing in Baltimore on Wednesday with executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and agent Dan Lozano in attendance. Joe Garagiola, Jr., senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for Major League Baseball, was also present as the sides met at the Camden Yards warehouse.
“At this point, there’s nothing to talk about,” Machado told reporters prior to Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. “Just wait and see how many games I’m going to get suspended. Hopefully, I don’t and just get fined.”
The Orioles remain hopeful that a ruling will not come prior to Friday’s split doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays because they are not allowed to fill Machado’s roster spot for however many games he must sit. Manager Buck Showalter acknowledged they would likely need another infielder in Machado’s absence. Logical candidates who could be added include Steve Lombardozzi and Jemile Weeks, who are both on the 40-man roster and currently playing at Triple-A Norfolk.
As far as which pitcher would go to make room for an additional infielder, Norris could figure into that equation as he was still experiencing some discomfort with his right groin while throwing a bullpen session on Wednesday. The right-hander had hoped to make the start in the nightcap of Friday’s doubleheader, but Chris Tillman will go in his place.
For now, the Orioles are optimistic that Norris will avoid the disabled list, but their roster needs with the Machado suspension could complicate that expectation. Showalter announced after Wednesday’s game that Norris would undergo a magnetic resonance imaging exam on Thursday morning.
“I don’t think Friday’s a good option,” said Showalter, who added that Norris is more uncomfortable working from the stretch than the windup. “[He’s] a little tentative, but better. I just don’t think he’s quite there yet.”
Showalter added that Norris is still in play to potentially start on Saturday or Sunday, but he will need at least one more bullpen session to see where he is from a physical standpoint. Because of Thursday’s off-day, the Orioles could push Norris as far back as Tuesday before they would need another starting pitcher.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman will start the first game on Friday as the 26th man that can be added for day-night doubleheaders, but the 23-year-old will then return to the minors for the remainder of his 10-day requirement after being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk last weekend. Gausman would be able to return to make his next start next Wednesday, but that would still leave Tuesday unaddressed should Norris not be ready by that point in time.
While they wait to see how quickly Norris continues to improve, the Orioles have several ways to handle the Machado suspension while keeping an eye on a potential need for a starter next Tuesday.
“We have things in place,” Showalter said. “Maybe somebody moves to Bowie to be closer. We’ve got some things in place — infielders, possible pitchers. There are some moving parts on it. We’re trying to prepare for the scenarios.
“Everybody’s in play. And there’s about a 50-percent [chance] that we stand pat [depending on] what happens.”
