The Orioles began the 2021 season with Pat Valaika pegged as the starting second baseman. Yolmer Sanchez was the early favorite at the position after Baltimore claimed him from Chicago last October, but the Orioles released Sanchez after they acquired reliever Adam Plutko at the end of March.
Releasing Sanchez showed that the club was comfortable with Valaika at second, but also represented the team’s desire to see what another utility man had to offer. Ramón Urías broke camp with the team after posting a .360/.407/.560 slash line through 10 games in 2020. Baltimore knew Urías could not reproduce that line, but they were clearly intrigued by the then 26-year-old.