Orioles add former All-Star to bolster infield depth for stretch run

Looking to bolster their infield depth following injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jorge Mateo, along with the trade of Connor Norby, the Orioles have signed veteran infielder Jean Segura to a minor-league contract. This move follows the Orioles signing veteran corner-infielder J.D. Davis to a minor league deal, and signifies an interest in adding veterans to potentially back up the Orioles young starting infield.

Segura, 34, struggled in 85 games last season with the Marlins, posting a weak .556 OPS with three home runs and six stolen bases. But the versatile Segura is only two years removed from a solid 2022 in Philadelphia, where he hit .277 with 10 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 98 games.

To be sure, the Orioles hope they can capture some of the Segura magic that made him an All-Star in 2018 with the Mariners, where he hit .304 with 10 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 20 steals. Segura's best season came all the way back in 2016 with Arizona, where he finished 13th in MVP voting and hit .319 with 20 home runs, 64 RBIs, 33 stolen bases, and a stellar 203 hits.

Realistically speaking, those days are likely well behind him. And for now, the veteran appears ticketed for Triple A Norfolk. However, his experience may soon be needed at the Major-League level.

Ramon Urias has started the last two games at third base, with rookie Coby Mayo struggling to find at-bats amidst an 0-13 start to his career. Urias is also the only player on the roster who can back up second base, and should draw starts over Jackson Holliday against tough left-handers.

Urias, who is a solid utility player, but not a full time starter, cannot be in two places at once. If Holiday needs an off-day, then Mayo must start, which the Orioles do not seem comfortable with. And if the O's do not want to start Mayo, then Holliday must play every day.

The Orioles' signing of veteran infielder Jean Segura may signal the end of Coby Mayo's first stint in Baltimore

Perhaps this explains the team's thinking behind signing Davis and now Segura. In Segura's case, while he would not be an everyday player, he gives the Orioles the option to start at second against tough lefties for Holliday, while also occasionally playing third for Urias or Mayo. Segura has also played a lot of shortstop in his career, and can fill in in a pinch for Henderson, who will need days off as the dog days of summer wear on.

An ideal situation would have been Mayo playing every day and learning to hit major league pitching on the fly. But so far, that has not happened, and the Orioles suddenly do not seem so inclined to let Mayo learn on the job.

Segura's clearest path to playing time will likely come from the seemingly inevitable optioning of Mayo. Once that happens, Urias and Segura can switch off at the hot corner, with the other functioning as the team's utility infielder.