Orioles injury makes one offseason move feel like a total formality now

The Baltimore Orioles were already without Jorge Mateo as the super-utility player has been on the IL since June 10 with an elbow injury, and on Tuesday, interim manager Tony Mansolino revealed that Mateo will be sidelined for another 8-12 weeks as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

If Mateo does return, it likely won’t be until the final month of the season; however, it’s possible that he is done for the season.

Mateo was never known for his offense, as his true value to the Orioles came with his ability to play multiple positions, but in past seasons, he has flashed some power to make him an ideal bench bat. In 2024, Mateo had 5 home runs in 68 games.

However, this season, Mateo’s offensive skills have all but diminished.

In 65 plate appearances this season, Mateo was slashing .180/.231/.279/43 wRC+. The regression for Mateo this season stems from an alarmingly high strikeout percentage.

After striking out around 23 percent of the time in 2023 and 2024, this season, Mateo’s strikeout percentage is over 35 percent. With only 1 home run on the season, there was no offensive value that Mateo brought to the Orioles this season.

The struggles of Mateo this season speak to the larger issue that has doomed the Orioles this season: there has been regression throughout their entire roster.

Sure, there may have been hope that Mateo could rekindle the success in 2023 and 2024 once he returned from injury; however, his underlying metrics this season suggest that wouldn’t have been the case.

One Orioles move is now all but confirmed after brutal injury news

Earning $3.5MM this season, as part of his agreement with the Orioles, the two sides added a $5.5MM club option for the 2026 season.

Mateo’s offensive struggles this season already made it likely that the Orioles would decline the option; now with the injury, the move feels like a formality.

Of course, for the Orioles, a larger decision will happen this month in the direction they take at the trade deadline.

While the Orioles have yet to commit to being sellers ahead of the deadline, that remains the likely path. Depending on how much they sell, that could change the tune of the offseason.