The Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Albert Suárez have separated again.
The Orioles announced on Wednesday that Suárez cleared waivers and elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. He can now sign with any MLB organization. The decision came three days after Baltimore designated him for assignment while recalling outfielder Rece Hinds, according to Reuters.
Suárez leaves the roster with a 2-0 record, one save, a 4.12 ERA, and a 1.25 WHIP across 59 innings and 27 relief appearances. He has not dominated, but he has given Baltimore multi-inning depth.
The central issue is flexibility. Suárez is out of minor league options, so the Orioles cannot freely shuttle him between Baltimore and Norfolk. They must expose him to waivers when they remove him from the roster, and his previous outright assignments allow him to choose free agency.
Albert Suárez Has Lived on Orioles’ Roster Bubble
Baltimore has selected Suárez’s contract four times in 2026, MLB Trade Rumors reported. Each return eventually led to another assignment designation when the club needed to rearrange its roster.
MLB.com documented the unusual cycle earlier this season. The Orioles non-tendered Suárez after 2025, re-signed him to a minor league contract in December, and selected his contract on April 1. He elected free agency after an April 26 designation, re-signed the next day, and quickly returned to the Majors.
Baltimore repeated the process in May and August. Suárez acknowledged the uncertainty when he returned in May.
“I’m kind of used to it. This is a thing I don’t control,” Suárez told MLB.com.
His latest trip through waivers showed that no other club wanted to claim him and immediately devote an active-roster spot to him. Free agency gives interested teams the chance to negotiate different terms.
Another Orioles Reunion Remains in Play
MLB Trade Rumors identified another deal with Baltimore as the most likely outcome, but neither side had announced a reunion when Suárez entered free agency.
The arrangement has delivered something to both sides. Baltimore can summon an experienced arm when its bullpen needs length. Suárez has opportunities to earn major-league pay and service time while pitching for an organization he knows.
He also has a recent track record that could attract another club. After pitching in Japan and South Korea, Suárez returned to MLB and recorded a 3.70 ERA over 133.2 innings for Baltimore in 2024. He made 24 starts among his 32 appearances that season.
Injuries limited Suárez to five outings in 2025, but the 36-year-old has handled 59 major league innings this year. He owns a 4.02 career ERA across 104 appearances with the Orioles and San Francisco Giants.
For now, Suárez can look for a steadier role. His repeated returns to Baltimore suggest this transaction may be another temporary goodbye rather than the end of his Orioles tenure.
Baltimore Orioles Pitcher Suddenly Becomes Free Agent