The Baltimore Orioles continue to conduct due diligence on every available talent. They signed former New York Yankees third baseman J.D. Davis to a minor league contract.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post was first to report.
Davis signed a one-year contract worth $2.5 million with the Oakland Athletics in March before being dealt to the Yankees in June. He participated in seven games and batted just 2-for-19.
Davis was designated for assignment at the end of July and later waived by New York in August.
The 31-year-old will now play for the Norfolk Tides, the Orioles’ Triple-A club. He provides Baltimore with third-base depth after Jordan Westburg’s injury.
Davis has a career.257/.340/.425 line in eight MLB seasons. He has hit 72 career home runs, including 18 with the San Francisco Giants last season.
Coby Mayo Struggling In MLB Debut
Coby Mayo, an Orioles rookie, was called up after Westburg shattered his hand. He’s 0 for 10 in four games so far.
Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Mayo only needs to focus on quality at-bats.
“It’s not easy up here,” Hyde told reporters on August 4. “It isn’t easy. You just need to get the best at-bats you can.”
On August 6, he tried to give Mayo his first MLB shot by pinch hitting for Colton Cowser. The bases were loaded for the Orioles, who were behind 5-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mayo came out swinging.
“We went with Austin (Slater), who’s been really good against lefties this year,” Hyde told reporters on August 6. “He labored a long walk. And then I tried a shot with Mayo there with the bases loaded, but it didn’t work out.”
Baltimore has not hesitated to return top prospects to the minor levels after brief stints, allowing players to learn from their experiences in the majors and adjust to additional playing time in the minors.
Mayo could wind up there sooner rather than later, with MLB veteran J.D. Davis waiting in the wings.
Orioles Pitching Staff Loses 2 Arms
Another Orioles starting pitcher has suffered a setback. Grayson Rodriguez was withdrawn at the last minute from his August 6th start against the Blue Jays.
Baltimore’s No. 2 starter was diagnosed with right lat/teres soreness.
On August 7, the Orioles announced that Rodriguez would be placed on the 15-day injured list.
Keegan Akin has been recalled to Baltimore, although he will not assume Rodriguez’s starting spot. Akin is a left-handed reliever who could allow Albert Suarez to return the Orioles’ starting rotation.
Akin has appeared in 47 games for Baltimore this season. He’s pitched 56.2 innings, allowing 7 home runs and 67 strikeouts. Akin has a 3.34 ERA on the year.
After Kyle Bradish, John Means, and Tyler Wells suffered season-ending injuries, another starting pitcher injury could spoil the Orioles’ season. Rodriguez’s absence will put Baltimore’s durability to the test yet again.
He’s hardly the only pitcher sidelined. In a subsequent action, the Orioles announced that righty reliever Jacob Webb will be added to the 15-Day Injured List alongside Rodriguez.
Bryan Baker will take Webb’s place. He joined Baltimore in June and has played in 14 games since. Baker pitched 17.2 innings, allowing two home runs and 14 strikeouts. He has a 4.58 ERA this year.
