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The Orioles brought Félix Hernández, Matt Harvey and Wade LeBlanc into Minor League camp this winter knowing full well the three were unlikely to be heading north with the club on opening day. It was just not clear which reclamation projects would be happening, and which would not, this spring.
Things are clearer now that Hernández has given up on his Minor League deal, the club announced on Monday afternoon, putting more emphasis on Baltimore’s launch plans. Hernández, who has suffered from pain in his right elbow since mid-March, simply ran out of time to join the club.
Hernández would have made $ 1 million if he had broken camp with the Orioles. He is now a free agent.
Hernández, 34, last pitched a regular season game in 2019 for the Mariners, for whom he was a six-time All-Star, two-time ERA champion and American League Cy Young award winner in 2010. He competed for a job in the Braves’ rotation last season, but chose not to play due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hernández’s departure allowed the Orioles to consolidate several roster decisions on the pitching side. They established their rotation before concluding their Grapefruit League schedule with Monday’s 8-3 loss to the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., Filling the two spots behind John Means, Harvey and Bruce Zimmermann with the right-handed Jorge López and Dean. Kremer.
López, who was out of Minor League options, beat Hernández, Baltimore No.11 prospect Keegan Akin and others by throwing a 2.75 ERA in six appearances (three starts) this spring. Kremer, the club’s No.8, made the team more on the heels of its 2020 debut (4.82 ERA in four starts) than its irregular spring (6.32 ERA).
The rotational roster sees López start the opener of the second series of the year on April 5 at the Yankees, and Harvey to start the club’s opener on April 8.
LHP John Means
RHP Matt Harvey
LHP Bruce Zimmermann
RHP Jorge López
RHP Dean Kremer
Bullpen decisions
The Orioles pen is not yet installed, but it is close. The O’s informed the two rule 5 picks Tyler Wells and Mac Sceroler that they had made the team in relief roles, according to a source, locking down all benchmarks except one. Baltimore now has to choose from three right-hangers for this spot: Cole Sulser, Dillon Tate and Travis Lakins. All have minor league options remaining.
The enclosure, as is:
LHP Tanner Scott
LHP Paul Fry
RHP Shawn Armstrong
RHP Cesar Valdez
LHP Wade LeBlanc
RHP Adam Plutko
RHP Tyler Wells
RHP Mac Sceroler
Open place
Wells and Sceroler had nice camps after the Orioles won them in the Rule 5 draft of the Twins and Reds, respectively. Wells opened his eyes by striking out 12 innings in nine Grapefruit League innings, allowing just one run. All five runs allowed by Sceroler came in a single set on March 5 against the Blue Jays; he had four other scoreless appearances. Sceroler, who is the former O pitcher and the nephew of current broadcaster Ben McDonald, is making the jump from Class A Advanced.
From the coaches room
The main difficulty the Orioles face is assessing the health of Anthony Santander, who won multiple batting hits in a mock game on Monday but was out of the roster against the Rays for the sixth straight game. Santander has been banned from the show since March 23 due to an oblique issue that the O’s described as minor and precautionary, although he missed most of the final month of 2020 due to severe oblique strain.
Hyde said on Sunday he had “no concerns” about Santander for opening day, but said on Monday that Santander would continue to test and receive treatment for the problem this week. Santander was Baltimore’s most productive hitter before his 2020 injury, scoring .261 with 11 home runs, 32 RBIs and an .890 OPS in 37 games.
There is more certainty about the status of DJ Stewart: the left hamstring that has sidelined the outfielder since early March will force him to start the season on the injured list. Stewart changed his hamstrings moving up the baseline on March 5 and never returned to Grapefruit League action. He’s progressed into the backyard baseball activity in recent weeks, but hasn’t recovered enough to resume the sprint in time for opening day.
Game
Zimmermann capped his rising spring with his ugliest outing in the Grapefruit League, allowing seven runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Rays on Monday. The rookie southpaw had pitched nine shutout innings before that, earning a spinning job on the strength of that performance. The Ellicott City, Md., Native is heading into the regular season as the Orioles’ No.3 starter, who is set to make his first start in Boston on Sunday.
“With this outing, it’s about putting it in the back view because of all the success I’ve had before and moving on to regular season games,” Zimmermann said. “By taking what I didn’t do well, but also doubling what I did well throughout the spring, and I’m really focusing on that next Sunday.”
next
After a day on Tuesday, the Orioles will practice in Florida on Wednesday and then travel to Boston for Thursday’s opener against the Red Sox. The means will line up opposite Nathan Eovaldi at 2:10 p.m. ET at Fenway Park.
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