The Baltimore Orioles just made another calculated roster move. They designated first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda for assignment to open the last spot on their 40-man roster.
This decision clears the way to officially add recent waiver claims Will Robertson and Drew Romo. Every roster spot feels fiercely contested now as Baltimore tries to stay both competitive and flexible.
Orioles Clear 40-Man Roster Spot for Robertson and Romo
The Orioles needed to make room, plain and simple. The move to DFA Noda boils down to roster math and shifting priorities.
With the offseason shuffle in full swing, Baltimore wanted a clear path to bring in two players they see as worthwhile upside plays.
Why Will Robertson and Drew Romo Matter
Will Robertson and Drew Romo came via waivers as part of Baltimore’s ongoing effort to stockpile controllable depth. Robertson brings potential outfield pop and some organizational flexibility.
Romo is a young catcher with defensive upside—something front offices seem to value more than ever. To make those additions official, someone had to go, and Noda, despite his promise, became the roster casualty.
Ryan Noda’s Wild 2025 Journey Across Five Organizations
Noda’s 2025 season reads more like a transaction log than a traditional campaign. At 29, he bounced across five organizations—Athletics, Angels, Red Sox, White Sox, and Orioles—through trades and waiver claims.
It’s a wild reminder of how unpredictable life can get on the fringes of a big-league roster.
From 2023 Breakout to 2025 Regression
This roster shuffle comes just two seasons after Noda’s intriguing 2023 breakout. That year with Oakland, he posted a .229/.364/.406 slash line and hit 16 home runs over 495 plate appearances.
His on-base skills and left-handed power made him a trendy under-the-radar asset, especially for teams that love analytics. But things changed fast.
Across 2024 and 2025, his performance cratered. Split between the White Sox and Orioles last season, Noda finished with a combined .106/.276/.170 line over just 59 MLB plate appearances.
In Baltimore, he barely got a look—only seven games and 14 plate appearances. He never really found a rhythm or enough opportunity to stick around.
What Designated for Assignment Means for Noda
Getting designated for assignment (DFA) kicks Noda off the 40-man roster. The Orioles now have a short window to trade, waive, or outright him to the minors.
For a player in his spot, the rules matter almost as much as the stats. It’s a tough business.
Outright Assignment Likely, but Another Claim Could Come
Noda’s now been DFA’d three times in his career. He still lacks the service time or previous outright assignment needed to reject a minor league assignment.
Given his track record, another waiver claim could easily happen. Teams looking for left-handed bats with patience and some defensive flexibility are always watching this tier of the market, aren’t they?
Why Teams Still See Value in Ryan Noda
Despite his struggles, Noda isn’t just roster filler. His profile still checks several boxes that front offices like when building out Triple-A pipelines.
Versatility, Patience, and Power Potential
Noda brings a toolkit that keeps him on the radar:
If Noda clears waivers, Baltimore can stash him at Triple-A. He’d be a handy depth piece, ready to fill in if injuries or slumps hit the big-league roster.
Big-Picture Takeaway for the Orioles
Baltimore’s 40-man roster feels more competitive than ever. To make room for upside plays like Robertson and Romo, the club faces tough calls on fringe contributors.
Some of these guys showed real big-league promise as recently as 2023. Still, the team’s gotta decide who stays and who goes.
Now, Ryan Noda’s future hangs in the balance on the waiver wire. Maybe he quietly sticks around in the Orioles’ system, or maybe another team takes a low-risk chance on a versatile, left-handed bat who’s still chasing the spark that once made him such an intriguing late bloomer.
Here is the source article for this story: Orioles Designate Ryan Noda For Assignment
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