O's claim Andrew Velazquez, DFA Richard Urena

[interloper]

The MIF carousel keeps on turning.

[anselmO]

I do not like the move for I have been a Urena guy for a long time now.

[interloper]

2 minutes ago, anselmO said:

I do not like the move for I have been a Urena guy for a long time now.

Well, hopefully he clears. Elias has been blasting the waiver wire like it's fantasy football, so I think he's just trying to stockpile whatever infielders he can get his hands on. 

[ChosenOne21]

Not sure I get this one. Urena is younger and has more ML experience (and probably more upside), but Velazquez has more positional flexibility.

[wildcard]

2 hours ago, interloper said:

Well, hopefully he clears. Elias has been blasting the waiver wire like it's fantasy football, so I think he's just trying to stockpile whatever infielders he can get his hands on. 

Seems like it.   Urena has never been outrighted, so if he clears he has to stay with the O's organization.

[weams]

12 minutes ago, anselmO said:

I do not like the move for I have been a Urena guy for a long time now.

They were using Urena at third yesterday during drills. 

[interloper]

4 minutes ago, ChosenOne21 said:

Not sure I get this one. Urena is younger and has more ML experience (and probably more upside), but Velazquez has more positional flexibility.

If I had to guess, it's about the positional flexibility and the fact that they don't really expect Urena to crack the 26-man roster, so they're hoping he's more of an upside stash. 

Velazquez can play a little CF, so that's helpful. 

[weams]

The Scrum

"Andrew Velazquez
If the Rays choose to go with a defensive-minded player to fill the Swiss Army knife role on the roster, Velazquez, who played six different positions in 34 2/3 innings in 2018, is perhaps the best glove man of this crowded group. Unfortunately for him, a glove-first utility player is far too specialized for this roster right now."

[Enjoy Terror]

37 minutes ago, anselmO said:

I have been a Urena guy for a long time now.

See a doctor!

 

(i kid)

[sportsfan8703]

Stockpiling middle infielders. Throw them all against a wall and hopefully one sticks. A cheap way to build depth. 

[Aristotelian]

There goes a lot of guesses for the 26th man on the roster thread. I would say Urias's chances just got a lot better.

[weams]

MLBTR.com

Quote

Velazquez, a 25-year-old switch-hitter, has only minimal MLB experience. In 648 total plate appearances at the Triple-A level, he owns a .260/.316/.415 batting line with 16 home runs.

If Urena clears waivers, he’ll likely end up competing for a job with Velazquez … among others. Both of these players have similar backgrounds — including that they primarily came up as shortstops. Velazquez has greater experience at other spots, particularly the outfield.

... Urena had himself been claimed off waivers recently. With that move, the O’s dropped Pat Valaika, who’s also still in camp — as is fellow recent addition Ramon Urias. Other utility candidates with MLB experience include Stevie Wilkerson, Jose Rondon, Dilson Herrera, and Jesmuel Valentin.

...the O’s appear set to go with a double-play combo of Jose Iglesias and Hanser Alberto.

 

[wildcard]

They forgot Martin, McCoy and Canelo

[HowAboutThat]

Well, I guess that’s one roster choice that I got wrong…

[HowAboutThat]

Meanwhile, I wonder how many 40th guys are monitoring Orioles camp closely, gauging their chances of getting picked up By Baltimore when their inevitable designation occurs?