The Orioles announced that they have recalled right-hander Anthony Nunez from Triple-A Norfolk. Fellow righty Albert Suárez has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move.

Suárez, 36, has been a swingman for the O’s for a few years now. He was a great asset for them in 2024, logging 133 2/3 innings with a 3.70 earned run average. Unfortunately, last year was marred by injuries. He missed time due to a subscapularis strain and a mild flexor strain, only making five appearances. He was non-tendered at the end of that season.

He re-signed with the O’s on a minor league deal and has been on and off the roster this year. His contract was selected at the end of March. He was designated for assignment about a month later. He cleared waivers and elected free agency but was back on the roster a few days later. One day later, he got the DFA treatment again. He was added back to the roster in the middle of May but got yet another DFA a few days later. After electing free agency once more, he was back on the roster at the end of May.

The pace of the transactions has died down, as he has been consistently on the roster for almost three months, but he is now designated for assignment for the fourth time this year. He has pitched three out of the last five days, including throwing 36 pitches yesterday. Perhaps he was going to be unavailable for a day or two, so the Orioles have swapped in a fresh arm.

Around all the transactions, Suárez has absorbed 55 innings over 25 appearances this year, allowing 3.93 earned runs per nine. His 8.3% walk rate is good but his 16.5% strikeout rate and 30.8% ground ball rate are both subpar figures. A .259 batting average on balls in play has likely helped him keep runs off the board but his 4.40 FIP and 4.62 SIERA are skeptical of that being sustainable.

With the trade deadline now in the past, Suárez will be back on waivers shortly. Perhaps a team in need of a fresh arm will claim him but the smart money is probably on Suárez clearing, at least based on precedent. It’s possible he goes through the same cycle as earlier this year, clearing waivers, electing free agency and then re-signing with the O’s.

Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images