The Orioles made a roster move Monday ahead of their three-game series in Detroit, designating catcher Sam Huff for assignment and recalling Yohel Pozo from Triple-A Norfolk.
Huff was serviceable behind the plate but couldn't contribute offensively during his time with Baltimore. He was 4-for-33 on the season, and the timing of the struggles stung — he was the final batter in both of the Orioles' extra-inning losses to Atlanta over the weekend, including Sunday's 3-2 defeat in eleven innings when Baltimore had the bases loaded with nobody out in the tenth.
Pozo, claimed off waivers from the Cardinals earlier this month, was optioned to Norfolk after the transaction to get at-bats and stay sharp. He joins the Orioles with the catching situation in Baltimore at a critical point — Adley Rutschman (left wrist) and Samuel Basallo (right shoulder) are both on 10-day IL stints, leaving the Orioles thin at the position during a stretch of games with genuine playoff implications.
The bar is straightforward: the Orioles don't need a star behind the plate right now. They need someone who can give them a professional at-bat.