Orioles add bullpen insurance, acquire post-hype prospect from Brewers

There's been a little buzz about whether lefty Cionel Perez will make it through the season as part of the Orioles' bullpen. He's been a mainstay in Baltimore for a couple years but he's had an awful start to the year, showing diminished velocity and an inability to get both whiffs and outs.

With Perez seemingly pitching for his job, the Orioles have gone out and acquired a little insurance, adding post-hype lefty Grant Wolfram in trade with the Brewers on Monday afternoon.

Wolfram was designated for assignment over the weekend, shortly after being activated to the major league roster. Now 28, Wolfram has long been an intriguing arm. Listed at 6'7", the lefty was initially drafted by Texas back in 2018. He spent seven years bouncing around the Rangers' system, pitching to a varied level of success but frequently posting strong strikeout rates. Despite the hype, Wolfram has still yet to make his major league debut.

In total, he posted a 3.13 ERA with a 4.04 FIP and a 27.6% strikeout rate in 60.1 minor league innings last year. The Orioles clearly see some potential here, and it's possible that as a lefty who is major league ready, he could take Cionel Perez's spot on the roster before long.

Orioles acquire lefty Grant Wolfram from Brewers on Monday afternoon

In exchange for Wolfram, the Orioles shipped outfielder Daz Cameron and cash considerations back to Milwaukee. Cameron returned to Baltimore on a minor league contract this winter. Cameron, the son of former major league outfielder Mike Cameron, spent the entire 2023 season in the Orioles system, playing 110 games for the Norfolk Tides.

Cameron left Baltimore during the winter of '23, signing a deal with the Oakland A's and getting some run with their major league club. He hit .200/.258/.329 with 5 homers and 5 steals in 66 games and unfortunately for him, wasn't invited back. He'll now head to his fourth organization in the last four seasons, and will hope to keep the dream alive.

With Wolfram coming over to Baltimore, the Orioles made the surprise move to transfer righty Albert Suarez to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster. Suarez's injury has been reported as a right subscapularis strain, which is jargon for a shoulder injury. Shoulders are notoriously terrible for pitchers, and it's not clear what Suarez's timeline looks like at this point. We'll have to hope for the best, but it's fair to expect that he'll miss significant time.