Peter Schmuck: Worsening Westburg situation puts Orioles in a fix

Sometimes, you need to read between the lines, even if you wish you didn’t. Like with these quotes from president of baseball operations Mike Elias and new manager Craig Albernaz about the outlook for injured third baseman Jordan Westburg:

February 11th (Elias): “At this time, we do not expect it’s going to threaten his status for Opening Day.”

February 13th (Albernaz): “The finished product, where we need to be is Opening Day … that’s our north star. That’s what we’re preaching to Westy and to all our guys.”

February 19th (Albernaz): “Just physically unable to go. I just want to make sure that we do our due diligence and make sure Jordan has the best chance to play this year.”

And just when I was sitting down to write that I was getting a bad feeling about all this, the club announced that Westburg has a partially torn ligament in his right elbow, which suddenly overshadows the oblique strain that initially threatened his ability to play in the early spring training games.

Westburg doesn’t deserve this. He’s a terrific talent who already had last season spoiled by a hamstring strain and an ankle sprain. He was looking forward to a full season and fully expressing that talent over 140-or-so games at third base.

Now, he will try to rehab his way around a possible season-ending elbow surgery and likely miss a chunk of the regular season under even the best of circumstances.

Now, it appears, the Orioles will have to double down on their attempt to get 24-year-old Coby Mayo ready at a position the coaching staff decided he wasn’t best suited to play last season. Or else bring back the Gold Glove and still-unsigned free agent Ramón Urías.

Either way, the decision to hold on to Mayo instead of trying to throw him into a deal for a starting pitcher or a reliever is looking a lot better. He did start to show signs of his offensive potential late last season and could end up having a breakout season if afforded regular playing time.

But either way, neither would be preferable to a surprisingly quick comeback by Westburg.

This has not been a good day.