Orioles Roster Moves: Latest Updates and Koby Perez Insight

This article digs into a hectic stretch of roster moves and player development strategy for the Baltimore Orioles. The highlight: they outrighted outfielder Jhonkensy Noel to Triple-A, a move that keeps their organizational depth intact.

There’s a lot going on with the 40-man roster, plus pitching and catching depth questions. The club’s international pipeline is also in the mix, giving a quick look at how the Orioles try to balance short-term flexibility with some long-term upside—never easy, honestly.

Orioles Keep Jhonkensy Noel in the Fold

The Orioles decided to outright Jhonkensy Noel to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers. It’s not a simple dismissal—they’re making a calculated bet.

Noel’s big-league production with Cleveland—.193/.242/.401 slash line and minus-1.4 bWAR over 136 games—wasn’t exactly eye-popping. Still, Baltimore sees something worth hanging onto.

Power, Youth, and a Developmental Bet

Noel is just 24 years old and brings raw power that you really can’t teach. That hasn’t shown up consistently in the majors, but the Orioles think their revamped hitting setup can help him find it.

With Dustin Lind and Brady North joining the coaching staff, there’s hope that a few mechanical tweaks and a fresh approach could unlock more production. Maybe it’s a reach, but sometimes you have to take those shots.

Noel ran out of minor league options, which made removing him from the 40-man roster almost necessary. This move gives the Orioles some roster breathing room, and they’ll still invite Noel to spring training to compete for a spot.

Outfield Depth: Numbers, Not Certainty

Baltimore’s 40-man outfield looks crowded on paper, but it’s not nearly as settled as it seems. There’s a mix of established guys, young regulars, and prospects still working to earn their place.

Current 40-Man Outfielders

The Orioles’ outfield depth right now includes:

Last season really showed why depth matters. Baltimore ended up using 16 different outfielders and a franchise-record 70 players overall during a rough, injury-riddled year.

Catching and Pitching: Thin Margins

The outfield might have numbers, but other spots are a lot thinner. Catcher, especially, is a real concern at the big league level.

Behind the Plate and on the Mound

Only Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo hold catcher spots on the 40-man roster. The Orioles signed Sam Huff to a minor-league deal, hoping to add insurance behind Triple-A options Maverick Handley and Silas Ardoin.

On the pitching side, Baltimore recently claimed lefty José Suarez from Atlanta. But a bunch of pitchers and relievers are running out of minor league options, tightening up roster flexibility and raising the stakes for every 40-man move.

International Pipeline Presses On

Outside the big league roster, the Orioles keep investing in international development. That’s still happening, even with all the geopolitical uncertainty swirling around.

Venezuela, the DSL, and Emerging Prospects

Vice president of international scouting Koby Perez admitted the Orioles faced a lot of operational headaches after the U.S. strike in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Even so, the team quickly moved Venezuelan players to the Dominican Republic and the United States so their seasons wouldn’t get delayed.

Perez pointed to infielder Aron Estrada (No. 22 prospect) and lefty Luis De León (No. 18) as guys who could reach the majors soon. He really likes how they’ve handled tougher, older competition and their time in Double-A.

The Orioles plan to run two Dominican Summer League teams again this year. They’re putting real focus on premium spots like shortstop, catcher, and center field.

Honestly, it just makes sense—they want more players getting meaningful reps and want to speed up the growth of their best young talent.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Another look at Orioles’ roster after latest moves made, more from Koby Perez