The Baltimore Orioles continued their busy day of roster moves, announcing the release of infielder Jean Segura from his minor league contract and the outright assignment of left-hander Nick Vespi to Triple-A Norfolk.
### **Jean Segura Released**
Segura joined the Orioles on a minor league deal in August, but struggled at the plate, hitting just .137/.250/.196 in 60 plate appearances over 14 games with Norfolk. This was Segura’s first action since his last game with the Miami Marlins on July 31, 2023. He was traded to the Cleveland Guardians the next day in a deal that sent Josh Bell to Miami, though Segura was merely a salary offset in the trade and was immediately released by Cleveland.
According to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, Segura requested his release from the Orioles, a decision that could indicate he was seeking other opportunities or contemplating retirement. Since Segura didn’t play winter ball and showed no signs of pursuing another contract in the year following his release by the Guardians, his brief stint with the Orioles might have been his final attempt at reviving his career.
Segura’s two-year, $17 million contract with the Marlins, signed during the 2022-23 offseason, is set to expire at the end of this season, potentially marking a clean end to his playing days. If Segura is indeed considering retirement, it would cap off a solid 12-season MLB career that included two All-Star selections. Despite his rough 2023 with Miami, Segura’s career remains notable for his consistent hitting, speed, and defensive versatility.
### **Nick Vespi Outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk**
Nick Vespi was designated for assignment last week and has now been outrighted to Triple-A after clearing waivers and being removed from the Orioles’ 40-man roster. Since this is Vespi’s first outright assignment and he lacks the MLB service time needed to reject it, he will report back to Norfolk, where he has frequently shuttled between the majors and minors since his debut in 2022.
Vespi has posted a respectable 3.88 ERA over 53 1/3 innings in his major league career, but his limited strikeout ability has kept him on the fringe of Baltimore’s bullpen plans. The Orioles have promoted and optioned Vespi the maximum five times this season, highlighting his role as a depth piece rather than a core bullpen arm.
### **Overall Impact**
The release of Segura suggests that the Orioles are focusing on other options and perhaps signals the end of Segura’s major league journey. Meanwhile, Vespi’s move back to Triple-A underscores his ongoing battle to secure a permanent spot in the Orioles’ bullpen. For the Orioles, these moves continue their efforts to refine the roster as they push towards a postseason run, making tough decisions to optimize their depth and talent across the organization.