The start of spring training signing of Chris Bassitt to get him into the Orioles starting rotation has made the role of a couple of incumbent O’s pitchers much less certain. If the team makes it through spring training without any injuries to the rotation mix – a big if – what happens to Tyler Wells?
Before the Bassitt signing, Wells figured to be the “next man up” for the starting rotation mix, who might get some play if Zach Eflin is more delayed in his return from back surgery than has been indicated so far. Now, it’s less clear what they will or should do with him, assuming nothing else changes.
Entering his sixth major league season at age 31, do the Orioles want to keep him as a long reliever? Will they prefer to have him stretched out as a starting pitcher, in which case they could still choose to use one of his remaining minor league options to send him to Triple-A Norfolk? They could even return him to the sort of relief role he occupied in his rookie year, when it looked like he might have some potential as a late-inning guy.
What do you think happens with Wells? Let us know in the comments below.