In the midst of some early-season turbulence, the Baltimore Orioles are navigating injuries to key infielders Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg. With both expected to be sidelined beyond Opening Day, speculation swirled about a potential reunion with free-agent infielder Ramon Urias.
However, the Orioles opted to bring back Bryan Ramos, who had a brief stint with the Cardinals. This move opened up a spot for Urias, who signed a one-year deal with St.
Louis.
The Cardinals, under the new leadership of Chaim Bloom, are in the early stages of a rebuild. This means Urias might find himself back on the trade market if he impresses in the initial months of the season.
The Orioles' decision to pass on Urias could shed light on their strategy for handling the infield vacancies left by Holliday and Westburg. With Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson solidly positioned at first base and shortstop, respectively, Baltimore is looking to fill the gaps at second and third base.
Holliday's injury seems less severe, suggesting a likely platoon at second base featuring Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson. Ramos, who is out of minor-league options, could also find his way onto the Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, Coby Mayo appears to be the frontrunner for the third base position.
Currently, the Orioles are planning for Westburg to miss just the first month of the season. However, there's still uncertainty about whether he might require surgery, which could sideline him for the entire year. Despite this, General Manager Mike Elias and his team seem reluctant to seek external solutions for third base, which might explain why Urias chose a guaranteed opportunity with the Cardinals rather than waiting on the free-agent market.