With February approaching and Spring Training just days away, one would expect all questions surrounding the Baltimore Orioles to focus on… pitching. Who will be the final starter? When will Mike Elias finalize his rotation? That’s the real concern for a team in contention.
However, while all eyes were still on the mound, an unexpected name was thrown into the conversation—and immediately caused a sense of unease: Ramón Urías.
The idea came from Roch Kubatko of MASN, who questioned whether the Orioles were considering bringing Urías back to a utility role on the bench. The mere fact that this question was raised was enough to make many pause. Since Urías was traded to the Astros at the deadline last July, there has been almost no sign of any continued contact between the two sides.
Even if you look purely at his performance, the situation becomes even more difficult to explain. Urías didn’t leave much of an impression at Houston, ending his short stint with a .223/.267/.372 rating and a wRC+ rating of just 76. A season like that doesn’t usually open the door to a reunion—especially with a team aiming for bigger goals.
The problem isn’t just the numbers. It’s the roster issue.
The Orioles already have a rather crowded bench: Tyler O’Neill with his high salary, Ryan Mountcastle, Jeremiah Jackson—who can play both infield and outfield—and Leody Taveras. Adding Urías to that structure immediately feels redundant.
If the argument is that Urías can replace Taveras, then the next question is: why need two utility-type players at the same time, when Jackson already handles most of that role? If Urías is considered a rotation option for Gunnar Henderson, the facts don’t support it — he hasn’t played shortstops regularly since 2021.
There’s only one scenario that makes things less unsettling: Ryan Mountcastle being traded.
Mountcastle is currently the most “out of place” name in the Opening Day lineup projections. If he leaves, the Orioles will need a player who can fill multiple positions and doesn’t require a starting spot — and Urías, theoretically, is a better fit than Mountcastle for bench flexibility. But that’s a lot of “ifs.”
What makes the story strange is the timing. The Orioles haven’t yet addressed their biggest need: a top-class starting pitcher. The sudden emergence of a bench reunion rumor in this context makes one wonder: is this just a question to fill the February airwaves, or a piece of the puzzle revealing something bigger going on behind the scenes?
Kubatko might just be opening up an interesting line of thinking. But it’s also possible he heard something—albeit vague—about the Orioles’ next move. And if that’s true, it further highlights the current misalignment of priorities.
Because ultimately, a team shouldn’t let secondary issues overshadow the main problem. The Orioles don’t lack utility. They lack pitching. And until that’s resolved, any discussion about bringing Ramón Urís back—however nostalgic—will feel… out of place, out of time.
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