The Orioles acquired right-handed swingman Adam Plutko from Cleveland Saturday, according to an industry source, using another team’s roster crunch to add a pitcher who could cover bulk innings for them in 2021.
Plutko, 29, has a career 5.05 ERA in 50 appearances (36 starts) for Cleveland since his debut in September 2016. He entered the spring out of minor league options, and joins an Orioles team that need all the stretched-out pitchers they can get.
Manager Brandon Hyde announced Matt Harvey would start the second game of the season behind Opening Day starter John Means, but with Félix Hernández not ready to begin the season with an elbow injury and rookie Keegan Akin’s form in the spring so poor that he was optioned to the minors Friday, the Orioles are shorter on starting depth than they anticipated.