Orioles designate relief pitcher Mychal Givens for assignment

SEATTLE–After two trips to the injured list, a rocky rehab assignment and six appearances, the Orioles ended Mychal Givens’ second stint with the team on Sunday when they designated the 33-year-old right-hander for assignment.

Givens, who was 0-1 with a 11.25 earned-run average in six games with the Orioles, missed the early part of the season with a knee injury and a right shoulder inflammation, which ultimately ended his time with the team.

“We’re coming down the stretch and we need guys that are durable, able to win some games down the stretch,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out with Mike, but we have some other guys here who have thrown the ball well.”

On Saturday night, Givens allowed three runs on two hits, walking two while recording just one out for Triple-A Norfolk at Jacksonville.

While Givens was a disappointment, Hyde didn’t expect that Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe would be as effective as they have been.

“You need some breaks along the way. You need some surprise stories,” Hyde said.

Givens, who was a second-round pick in 2009 as an infielder, was converted to pitching in 2012 and was 20-18 with a 3.41 ERA and 20 saves in seven seasons with the Orioles.

The Orioles traded him to Colorado in August 2020, and he also pitched for the Reds, Cubs and Mets. The Orioles signed Givens as a free agent in December to a one-year, $5 million contract with a $6 mutual option for 2024, which will be bought out for $2 million.

Note: Hyde said it was possible that outfielder Aaron Hicks would be activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday in San Diego. Hicks, who has been rehabbing a left hamstring strain, played two rehab games for Norfolk this weekend.