BOSTON -- Multiple significant changes were made to the Orioles’ roster on Saturday.
First, the O’s placed outfielder Ramón Laureano on the 10-day injured list prior to the split doubleheader vs. the Red Sox at Fenway Park, a move that was retroactive to Wednesday. The 30-year-old outfielder is dealing with a left ankle sprain he sustained during Tuesday’s 5-2 loss in Milwaukee. Infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra’s contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk.
Then, in between games, the Orioles designated struggling left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez for assignment. Right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo’s contract was selected from Norfolk, increasing the number of players on the club’s 40-man roster to 39.
Part of the reason for Baltimore’s disappointing 16-34 start has been injuries, as key players such as outfielder Colton Cowser (left thumb fracture), infielder Jordan Westburg (left hamstring strain), outfielder Tyler O’Neill (left shoulder impingement), right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (right elbow inflammation/right lat strain) and others are on the IL, which now features 10 players.
Through 36 games, Laureano was hitting .266 with seven doubles, six home runs, 11 RBIs and an .852 OPS. The only Orioles players with more homers are Cedric Mullins (10), Gunnar Henderson (seven) and Ryan O’Hearn (seven), while Jackson Holliday also has six.
Laureano, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million in February, ranks fourth on the team in bWAR (1.2).
Interim manager Tony Mansolino said late Saturday morning that Laureano would be running to test his left ankle. Shortly after, the O’s opted to place him on the IL.
Vavra, who first joined the team on the medical taxi squad Saturday, hasn’t made a big league appearance since the 2023 season, when he made Baltimore’s Opening Day roster. He hit .245 with five RBIs in 27 games for the Orioles that year.
The 28-year-old Vavra owns a .254/.331/.304 slash line in 67 career MLB games. This year, he was hitting .317 (19-for-60) with three doubles, one triple, one home run, seven RBIs and an .838 OPS over 22 games at Triple-A.
Last year, Vavra missed time due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder, a left groin strain and an illness. He was claimed off waivers by the Mariners on Aug. 23, then elected to become a free agent after getting designated for assignment eight days later. He re-signed with the O’s on Sept. 7 to a Minor League deal.
Vavra became a free agent again this past offseason before signing another Minors deal with the Orioles on Feb. 5.
Hiraldo took the spot of Pérez, who had an 8.31 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP over 19 relief appearances this year. The 29-year-old southpaw, who had been part of Baltimore’s bullpen since the beginning of the 2022 season, allowed five earned runs in one inning during Friday’s 19-5 loss in Boston.
Pérez was once the O’s top left-handed relief option. His best showing came in 2022, when he recorded a 1.40 ERA in 66 games.
In four seasons with the Orioles, Pérez had a 3.72 ERA over 212 outings.
The 29-year-old Hiraldo signed with Baltimore on Oct. 31 after pitching in Mexico last year. He had a 3.86 ERA in 9 1/3 innings over six games (one start) in Triple-A this season.