Orioles Designate Luis Vázquez For Assignment

The Orioles announced Monday that infielder Luis Vázquez has been designated for assignment. His roster spot goes to outfielder Luis Robert Jr., whose previously reported waiver claim has now been announced by the club. Baltimore also optioned righty Anthony Nunez to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled lefty Cade Povich in his place. Povich will start tonight’s game. Vázquez, 26, has only one big league plate appearance this season. He was with the O’s for 36 games last year, however, and batted .160/.208/.240 in a small sample of 53 plate appearances. Baltimore primarily used him as a versatile late-game option, given his ability to play any of the four infield positions. Vázquez has played in 58 Triple-A games this season, batting .238/.284/.371 in 228 trips to the batter’s box. He’s now appeared in parts of six Triple-A seasons and slashed .247/.327/.398 in 1033 plate appearances there. Both the Cubs and O’s have given Vázquez brief looks in the majors, but he still has just 67 plate appearances at baseball’s top level. Statcast credited the righty-swinging utilityman with slightly above-average speed last season. He’s primarily been a shortstop in the minors but has several hundred innings at both second base and third base, in addition to cameos at first base and in the outfield corners. With the trade deadline behind us, Vázquez can only be placed on waivers. Assuming he goes unclaimed, he’d have the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, should he choose. Even if he sticks with the O’s, he can become a minor league free agent at season’s end. View Comments (1)