Orioles Activate Adley Rutschman, Dylan Beavers; Designate Sam Huff - MLB Trade Rumors

I thought Jackson would stay in the majors. Huh The Orioles announced several roster moves this morning. Adley Rutschman is being activated off the 7-day concussion injured list. Outfielder Dylan Beavers is also back from the 10-day IL. Utilityman Jeremiah Jackson was optioned to Triple-A after yesterday’s game, while catcher Sam Huff is being designated for assignment. Rutschman was placed on the concussion IL on June 20th (retroactive to the 19th) after an errant throw struck him in the head in an attempt at a double play. Manager Craig Albernaz acknowledged the injury as a freak incident and stated the team would take it day by day with Rutschman’s recovery. Ultimately, Rutschman makes his return just two days after he was first eligible, giving the team three catchers on the active roster with Huff’s designation. Samuel Basallo drew six of eight possible starts behind the plate while Rutschman was out, with Huff and Chadwick Tromp each starting one game to round things out. Basallo only has six hits in 28 plate appearances since June 19th, but that’s a minor blip in what’s otherwise a strong season for the youngster. Rutschman and Basallo are both at least 13% better than average at the plate according to wRC+, giving Baltimore one of the better catching tandems in the league from an offensive standpoint. The team has used the DH spot to give both Rutschman and Basallo regular playing time, with one getting a half day off when the other starts behind the plate. Rutschman’s return is crucial to the Orioles’ playoff hopes. The team is 39-45 after yesterday’s loss to the Nationals and has a -24 run differential. Overall, the offense is middle-of-the-pack with a 102 wRC+. Of the ten hitters with at least 200 plate appearances, Pete Alonso (126 wRC+), Blaze Alexander (122), Taylor Ward (121), Rutschman (118), and Basallo (113) are above average at the plate. The other five hitters are below average by wRC+. Those first five names give the Orioles’ offense a solid floor and make it a relative strength compared to the pitching staff. That said, Baltimore faces an uphill battle to reach the postseason. While they’re currently just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, FanGraphs gives the Orioles a 26.1% chance of making the playoffs. The team’s schedule through the deadline is pretty favorable outside of six games against the Cubs and Braves, but realistically, they’ll still need to make several upgrades to have a shot, mostly on the pitching side. The return of Beavers may also help the lineup, albeit not as much as Rutschman. Beavers, selected 33rd overall by Baltimore in the 2022 draft, went on the IL on May 13th with a right oblique strain. He was roughly average in 119 plate appearances pre-injury, batting .243/.331/.369 with a 23.5% strikeout rate and an above-average 11.8% walk rate. Beavers’ drop in power has led to a 99 wRC+ this year, falling below last year’s 125 wRC+ in a similar sample size. Now returning after a seven-week absence, Beavers will slot into right field and continue to establish himself as a big league regular. Turning to Jackson, the 26-year-old heads down to Triple-A for the first time this year. Owing to Jackson Holliday‘s hamate surgery in spring training, Jeremiah Jackson earned an active roster spot out of camp. He had a 110 wRC+ through the end of April but has struggled since then, now sporting an 81 wRC+ on the season overall. Jackson has never been one to draw walks, but his 1.9% walk rate this year is well below his career norms and falls in just the first percentile according to Statcast. Jackson remains valuable for his defensive versatility, though his bat will keep him in Triple-A until a roster spot opens up in the future. With Rutschman, Basallo, Tromp, and Dom Keegan all on the 40-man roster, Huff is squeezed out of a roster spot. He’s offered nothing with the bat this year, batting .174/.174/.261 in 23 scattered plate appearances while failing to work a walk. Huff was outrighted by the Giants last year and has the right to refuse another such assignment if he wants. When he clears waivers, Huff could elect free agency and explore his options on the market or re-up with Baltimore on a minor league deal, as he did at the end of April. Photo courtesy of Mitch Stringer, Imagn Images