Orioles add another reliever, Jose Espada

BALTIMORE—The Orioles added yet another relief pitcher on Friday when they recalled right-hander Jose Espada from Triple-A Norfolk after Chayce McDermott was placed on the Bereavement/Family Medical List.

The 28-year-old Espada was signed to a minor league contract on July 26^th, and on August 11^th was optioned to Norfolk. He was 2-2 with a 5.94 ERA and three saves with the Tides.

“I feel like I did my work down in the minors and did what I had to do to earn this opportunity,” Espada said through a team translator.

When he gets into a game, he’ll be the 70^th player used by the Orioles this season, tying a major league record set by the 2024 Miami Marlins. The Orioles have used 40 pitchers, including position players, two short of the franchise record set in 2021.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino has had to work with the ever evolving bullpen and must make quick judgments on relievers.

“I think they evaluate themselves,” he said. “I think how they pitch and how they throw, it does our job for us in a lot of ways. I think the realty is of the group of guys that’s here, you’re probably going to get a couple that really are going to put themselves in consideration for next year.

“I think the reality is [president of baseball operations Mike Elias] is probably going out to grab some bullpen guys this winter, several of them would be my guess. Some of these guys put themselves on the map, and they do it through their performance. They make it easy for us when they perform.”

Mansolino mentioned Dietrich Enns and Kade Strowd as two relievers who’ve impressed him.

Espada pitched one game for San Diego on September 24^th, 2023, throwing a scoreless inning, with two walks and two strikeouts.

Right-hander Scott Blewett was returned from his minor league rehab assignment and designated for assignment. Blewett had been on the 60-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.

Infielder Emmanuel Rivera cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Norfolk.

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