SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles didn’t put infielder Errol Robinson on their list of spring training invites. However, he’s got a locker in the main clubhouse at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and said he officially joined the group about a week ago.

Robinson, a native of Boyds, Md., is 5-for-11 with six walks. He signed a minor league deal in January.

Adding Robinson would increase the camp roster to 58 players.

Adley Rutschman is leading off today and serving as designated hitter for the split-squad game against the Blue Jays in Sarasota.

Ryan O’Hearn is in right field and Colton Cowser is starting in center. Kolten Wong is at second base.

The Winter Meetings wrapped up two weeks ago and the Orioles hadn't added anyone to their roster until trading for Royals pitcher Jonathan Heasley on Monday. The last deal was the $12 million paid to closer Craig Kimbrel in 2024, along with a $13 million option and $1 million buyout.

Exactly one year ago tonight, the Orioles and Mets swung a trade that provided a backup catcher to Adley Rutschman. James McCann was acquired for a player to be named later who became minor league first baseman/outfielder Luis De La Cruz.

The Mets assigned De La Cruz to their Dominican Summer League team. He didn’t play in 2023.

They also were responsible for $19 million of the $24 million owed to McCann, who had two years remaining on his contract.

McCann said he was Christmas shopping when contacted by his agent. The catcher was caught off guard.

With so much said and written about the Orioles throughout the offseason and spring training, it’s hard to remember how much the media got right, wrong or stuck in a gray area.

The internet makes it a lot easier to keep score.

So does a good memory.

On a Sunday spent on the Eastern Shore, with my mother’s cooking a coma-inducing risk – her Italian chicken and spaghetti, preceded and followed by a table full of snacks, have laid out larger men than me – I decided to revisit some of my thoughts and predictions while I’m conscious.

Adley Rutschman’s workload behind the plate.

SEATTLE – The Orioles today reinstated reliever Mychal Givens from the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and then designated him for assignment.

Signed as a free agent on Dec. 21, Givens pitched in just four games this year for Orioles. He gave up five earned runs over four innings for an ERA of 11.25. He has not pitched for the Orioles since May 31.

“Well, it’s this time of year," manager Brandon Hyde said of Givens' designation. "We’re trying to win every game we can and we are coming down the stretch and we need guys that are durable, and able to win some games down the stretch. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for Mike, but we have some other guys here that have thrown the ball extremely well and just want to finish the season strong."

Givens had a 6.60 ERA in 15 minor league games, and just last night allowed three runs while getting just one out for Triple-A Norfolk.

More on the six-man rotation: The Orioles have embarked, at least for now, on a six-man rotation, with Cole Irvin entering the mix last night. Kyle Gibson and Irvin pitched in this series, and Kyle Bradish goes today.

The Orioles begin a four-game series in Toronto tonight with Adley Rutschman settled in as the leadoff hitter and Gunnar Henderson behind him.

Rutschman has reached base six times in two games, including three singles and a walk last night.

Colton Cowser is in center field, flanked by Austin hays in left and Anthony Santander in right.

Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter. He’s a career .306/.368/.613 hitter with 15 home runs in 45 games against the Blue Jays.

Kyle Gibson is 9-6 with a 4.68 ERA and 1.323 WHIP in 22 games, and the one starter who isn’t an innings concern to the Orioles. He’s totaled 127 this season, with his career high 196 2/3 in 2018.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – New Orioles reliever Shintaro Fujinami is traveling from the West Coast and could report to the club on Friday.

“We’ll see,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We’re not quite there yet.”

Fujinami was acquired from the Athletics last night for minor league pitcher Easton Lucas. The Orioles will make a corresponding roster move after he arrives.

Logan Gillaspie was recalled yesterday and could be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The decision could hinge on tonight’s bullpen usage.

Fujinami is the second Japanese-born player in Orioles history, joining Koji Uehara from 2009-11. He’s the latest plus fastball, plus splitter pitcher to join the bullpen, his four-seamer increasing in velocity and touching triple digits after the Athletics pulled him from the rotation.

The Orioles knew that the bullpen wasn’t equipped to provide length this afternoon. The only decision was which reliever to send down.

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk this morning, and the Orioles selected Chris Vallimont’s contract.

Nick Vespi was spared after tossing three scoreless innings last night. Zimmermann has pitched three times since Monday, working two innings last night.

Keegan Akin is on the 15-day injured list with lower back discomfort. Cole Irvin is starting Sunday afternoon.

“Definitely needed somebody for the next couple days,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Hopefully, we can get a couple good starts and get some length out of our starters. But wanted to bring a guy who can give us some innings if we need it, and so we brought Chris here for today.”

The bullpen never rests.

The Orioles made another move this morning, selecting Chris Vallimont’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning left-hander Bruce Zimmermann.

Reliever Mychal Givens was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create room on the 40-man roster. He’s headed down to Sarasota next week and will pitch in the Florida Complex League after the All-Star break.

Givens hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since making his sixth appearance on May 31. He won’t join them before August.

Vallimont, 26, is waiting to make his major league debut. He’s posted a 5.02 ERA in 22 games with Norfolk, including eight starts.

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate is getting a second opinion on his right elbow after undergoing further testing this week.

Tate is on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain. He hasn’t pitched this season.

“We’re hoping that everything is clear and he’s able to start a rehab assignment following that,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

Tate was removed from his first rehab assignment after allowing 18 earned runs (20 total) and 21 hits with 11 walks in 10 2/3 innings between High-A Aberdeen, Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Eight of his 13 appearances came with the Tides, and he surrendered 10 runs and 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings against International League batters before returning to Baltimore.

A right forearm/flexor strain kept Tate off the Opening Day roster, with the discomfort beginning in November.

The Orioles begin their final homestand tonight before the All-Star break.

Sneaked up on you, didn’t it?

There was movement in the standings yesterday, with the Orioles idle and the Rays winning in Arizona to extend its division lead to 5 ½ games. The Yankees won in Oakland and crept within four of the Orioles.

Two straight losses to the Reds have left the Orioles 17 games above .500. They’re 6-7 since winning five in a row.

No team in the American League ranks higher than the Orioles in the wild card standings. The top three reside in their division.

The choices are plentiful and create nice problems for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.

His Gold Glove third baseman and Fielding Bible Award winning shortstop aren’t in tonight’s lineup. Instead, Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo are in the dugout for the final game of the series against the Reds at Camden Yards.

The decision to option Joey Ortiz to make room for Jordan Westburg didn’t solve every roster issue.

Ortiz appeared in only four games this month and didn’t start after June 17. Westburg, meanwhile, is here to play.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an even swap.

Orioles reliever Mychal Givens returned to Baltimore due to some soreness in his right shoulder.

Givens left his injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, where he began pitching again after a shutdown period caused by inflammation in the shoulder. He appeared in Thursday’s game and allowed one run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning.

The rehab schedule had Givens pitching again today, but the Orioles’ medical staff is examining him.

“It’s a low level of concern,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He just had a little bit of discomfort. … Hopefully, he’ll go right back to continue his rehab.”

Givens began the season on the injured list with left knee soreness. He appeared in six games, allowing five earned runs (six total) and four hits with six walks in four innings.

Orioles reliever Mychal Givens will pitch Sunday for Triple-A Norfolk, the firmest update available today on rehabbing players in the organization.

Givens allowed a run and two hits with a walk in two-thirds of an inning yesterday in Game 1 of a doubleheader. He's recovering from right shoulder inflammation.

The club is performing daily evaluations on center fielder Cedric Mullins and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who remain on their injury rehab assignments with Norfolk. Mullins started both games of last night’s doubleheader, while Mountcastle appeared in the opener.

Mullins isn’t in Norfolk’s lineup tonight. Mountcastle is batting second and serving as the designated hitter.

“We’re still kind of taking it day-to-day with both guys, but we’re encouraged that they came out of both those games feeling good,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

Two veteran Orioles relievers will begin injury rehab assignments this week.

Mychal Givens will pitch for Double-A Bowie on Wednesday and Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. Dillon Tate is scheduled to pitch for Norfolk Thursday and Saturday.

Givens began the season on the injured list with left knee inflammation, made six appearances with the Orioles and returned to the IL on June 2 with right shoulder inflammation. He allowed five earned runs and six total with six walks in four innings.

Tate is waiting to make his 2023 debut. He completed a rehab assignment and went back on the injured list with a right elbow flexor strain. The Orioles transferred him to the 60-day IL to create a spot for infielder Josh Lester.

The latest injury is unrelated to the strained right forearm that kept him from pitching in spring training.

The Orioles made a change to their bullpen before tonight’s series opener against the Giants, and it isn’t just about length and a fresh arm.

They needed a healthy one, too.

Mychal Givens was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to yesterday, with right shoulder inflammation. Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

Givens faced three Cleveland batters Wednesday and didn’t retire anyone. He’s made six appearances and allowed five earned runs (six total) and four hits with six walks and two strikeouts in four innings.

The reunion hasn’t gone as planned for Givens or the Orioles.

Yennier Cano ran the count full Thursday night against Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and did the unthinkable. He threw a sinker out of the strike zone that Judge didn’t chase it.

The first walk by Cano in 25 2/3 innings.

All good stats must come to an end.

“Looking back, it’s great that it took that long to finally walk someone, and honestly, I’m really happy with who I ended up walking and the way that at-bat turned out, because it wasn’t just any hitter,” Cano said yesterday via interpreter Brandon Quinones, the smile on his face an indicator that he wasn’t fretting the free pass.

“He’s a great hitter, it was a great at-bat. We fought hard the entire AB, and I threw some good pitches. Went through tough at-bats. I wasn’t upset at all with how it turned out and who I ended up walking. Honestly, just really happy with how things went looking back at it now.”

The Orioles have reinstated infielder Ramón Urías from the 10-day injured list following his two rehab games at High-A Aberdeen.

Urías hasn’t played for the Orioles since straining his left hamstring on May 8.

In a corresponding move, rookie infielder Joey Ortiz was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Ortiz was 5-for-11 in his last five games.

Back from a 5-1 road trip that moved them 16 games above .500, the Orioles begin another homestand with a weekend series against the first-place Rangers, whose 31-18 record is third-best in baseball.

Never seems to get any easier.

TORONTO - The Orioles are getting a reinforcement today for their heavily-used bullpen as right-hander Mychal Givens has been activated as the Orioles try to sweep Toronto today at Rogers Centre. Givens has not pitched in an O's game since March 16 in spring training.

But today he comes off the 15-day injured list - he's been out with left knee inflammation. To make roster room lefty Cole Irvin was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk. Recalled Tuesday from the Tides, Irvin pitched just once since his return to the club and that was in yesterday's 6-5 Orioles win in 10 innings. 

He faced two batters in the seventh inning, allowing an inherited run on an RBI single to Alejandro Kirk and he got a popout to the infield from Matt Chapman. He threw just seven pitches.

With Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista having pitched in both games of this series and very likely not available today, the O's are short in the bullpen today and enter Givens to provide a lift.

Orginailly drafted by the Orioles as a high school shortstop out of Tampa, Fla. in the second round in 2009, he was later converted to pitcher. The O's traded him on Aug. 30, 2020 to Colorado in a deal that brought the club Terrin Vavra, Tyler Nevin and a player to be named later that became minor league outfielder Mishael Deson.

TORONTO – Saying he got to see a “master class” at work last night, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hopes right-hander Grayson Rodriguez can pick up today where Kyle Gibson left off Friday. Gibson held Toronto to one run and five hits over seven innings as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 6-2 to take the series opener.

Now they can win this series today or tomorrow and take another series from an American League East opponent. The Birds are 7-6 in division games this season and 5-2 in their past seven division games, winning series against Boston and Tampa Bay.

Rodriguez is next up to face a strong Toronto lineup, but in two of his last three starts he has allowed six and eight runs. In between those two was his only career start against an AL East team, and he held Tampa Bay to two runs over 5 2/3 innings. So the Orioles know the talent is in there for the rookie, who, despite a 6.57 ERA for the year, has four starts in which he allowed two runs or fewer.

“Well, he got a master class last night,” Hyde said today when asked about Rodriguez pitching today. “Sure he was paying attention to that. A really tough lineup to pitch to, and Grayson is going to go through this. All the lineups he is facing for the first time. He’s getting to know the league and he’s doing a good job preparing. Seen him prepare a lot these last few days for this start today, and he got a great example last night of a really competitive outing.

“Hoping Grayson works ahead in the count and tries to match what Kyle did yesterday.”

Drew Rom’s major league debut remains on hold.

So close, but unable to capture it.

The Orioles announced that they optioned Rom to Triple-A Norfolk following last night’s 2-1 win over the Rays at Camden Yards. A corresponding move is coming Friday when they begin a three-game series against the Pirates that’s situated in the middle of their homestand.

Rom was summoned on Monday within a flurry of roster moves that included the return of infielder/outfielders Ryan O’Hearn and Terrin Vavra. Keegan Akin was optioned, with Rom replacing him as left-handed long relief.

Infielder Ramón Urías went on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring, and catcher Luis Torrens was designated for assignment. Torrens' situation hasn't been resolved.