Livan

Soto

After never getting into a game in his first two stints with the Orioles, Soto did play in 12 this time around and went 3-for-10 with three walks. He’ll likely be dropped from the 40-man once the Orioles’ postseason concludes.

Holliday was lifted for a pinch-hitter after striking out twice Friday, and he didn’t get into Saturday’s game. Livan Soto went 2-for-4 in that one and is playing second base again today. Holliday is 5-for-35 with one RBI this month. He’s hitting .132/.193/.184 in 83 plate appearances since Aug. 18. Anyone holding on to him ought to find an alternative for the final two weeks.

The Orioles would prefer to time Holliday’s off days against lefties, but they’re in the midst of a long string of games against righties at the moment. Liván Soto is getting the start at second. He’s served two stints with the Orioles, but it only now about to get his first at-bat with the team.

Soto never got into a game in his first two stints with the Orioles. Maybe things will be a little better this time, but he’s very much the 26th man.

After the Orioles claimed Emmanuel Rivera off waivers on Wednesday, it seemed like only a matter of time before Rivera would be activated to take Soto’s place on the active roster. That day was today. Soto will continue to serve as organizational depth for the Orioles moving forward.

Rivera was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Wednesday and will now join the active roster. The 28-year-old was hitting just .214/.294/.269 in 229 plate appearances before being cut by the Marlins and should operate off the bench for the Orioles while getting some starts at third base against left-handed pitchers. Livan Soto was sent to the minors in a corresponding move.

Rivera is out of options, so he’ll join the major league team, presumably as a replacement for Livan Soto on the bench. The 28-year-old was hitting just .214/.294/.269 in 229 plate appearances before being cut by the Marlins, but he’s been a little better in the past and he is a plus defensive third baseman.

What a wild season it’s been for Soto who has been on three teams and up and down between the majors and Triple-A multiple times. So far, he has been in the Angels organization twice, with the Orioles three separate times, and up and down with the Reds a few times as well. He will be a backup infielder in Baltimore with Ramon Urias serving as the everyday third baseman, so Soto is firmly off the fantasy radar. Coby Mayo was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Orioles simply don’t have, or don’t feel they have, the time to wait around while their top prospect struggles to adjust at the major league level. Mayo struggled mightily in his first taste of the big leagues, going 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts. The Orioles will now send him back to Triple-A where he was hitting .308/.384/.619 with 23 homers, 67 RBI, four steals, and an 88/36 K/BB ratio over 357 plate appearances. The good news for the team is he will now retain rookie eligibility for 2025 and could be a contender for the AL Rookie of the Year, which would award the Orioles a bonus draft pick. Livan Soto was called up in a corresponding move.

Soto is being sent down as the corresponding move with the Orioles bringing up Coby Mayo. He didn’t appear in any games with Baltimore this season. Soto hit .280 with four home runs and 39 RBI at Triple-A this year.