The Orioles reshaped their rotation depth and infield alignment in one move Saturday, when they acquired right-hander Adam Plutko from the Indians for cash considerations and designated Yolmer Sánchez for assignment. Sánchez had been Baltimore’s projected starting second baseman with less than a week until Opening Day.
Plutko, 29, went 13-12 with a 5.05 ERA in 50 appearances (36 starts) for Cleveland from 2016-20, mostly serving in a swingman role. He was out of Minor League options and pitched to a 5.00 ERA in six outings this spring, none exceeding two innings. His addition quells a bit of rotation uncertainty for an Orioles team that will head north without projected starter Keegan Akin, who was optioned Friday after posting a 10.00 ERA in Grapefruit League play.
The O’s must also make a decision this weekend on right-hander Félix Hernández (right elbow discomfort). As of Saturday, they’d committed publicly to only two rotation members: Opening Day starter John Means and Matt Harvey. Plutko now profiles as depth among a rotation candidate/swingman mix that includes Dean Kremer, Wade LeBlanc, Jorge López and Bruce Zimmermann.
Acquired on waivers to be Hanser Alberto’s replacement at second base this winter, Sánchez hit .190 this spring while starting every other day at second base. Still, him being DFA’d came as a surprise. Sánchez had been penciled into the leadoff spot in Saturday’s starting lineup before the move, one day after the Orioles optioned two potential replacements, Jahmai Jones and Richie Martin, to Triple-A Norfolk.
As recently as Thursday, O’s manager Brandon Hyde said he was “very, very pleased with how he’s played” when asked about Sanchez, who won a Gold Glove Award with the White Sox in 2019. Sanchez was set to earn $1 million this season.
“He’s a pro at second base,” Hyde said. “Making the routine play, turns a great double play. He’s energetic on the infield, a great communicator on the field and has done a really good job of fitting in here.”
In Sánchez’s absence, the most likely replacement looks like Ramón Urías, who turned heads early this spring as a super-utility candidate. Urías replaced Sánchez in Saturday’s lineup. Pat Valaika can also play second base, as can utility candidate Stevie Wilkerson. The O’s could also scour the waiver wire for other options, targeting out-of-options players who might become available prior to Opening Day.
