Atlanta signed Mateo to a one-year contract Monday.

EDGE Analysis

With Ha-Seong Kim (finger) set to miss at least the first six weeks or so of the season, Atlanta has added Mateo as a depth option at shortstop. The 30-year-old Mateo was plagued by injuries in his last two seasons with the Orioles, finishing with a lowly .177/.217/.266 batting line over 42 contests in 2025. He's healthy, now, though, and offers the ability to play second base, third base and all three outfield spots in addition to shortstop. Mauricio Dubon remains the likely Opening Day starter at shortstop for Atlanta, but Mateo will be in the mix while Kim recuperates from finger surgery.

The Orioles declined Mateo's $5.5 million option for 2026 on Monday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He'll become a free agent after slashing just .177/.217/.266 across 42 contests during an injury-shortened 2025 campaign for Baltimore. The 30-year-old Mateo has an underwhelming .221/.266/.363 career batting line over parts of six major-league seasons, but his speed and versatility should be enough to attract some interest on the free-agent market.

The Orioles reinstated Mateo (hamstring) from the injured list Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Mateo initially landed on the injured list in June with a left elbow injury, but his time on the shelf was extended by a couple of months after he strained his left hamstring during a rehab game at Triple-A Norfolk. Now fully recovered from both injuries, the 30-year-old utility man will rejoin the active roster and likely take on a bench role, though his defensive versatility will boost his odds of cracking the starting nine occasionally. With Tyler Wells (elbow) also returning from the 60-day IL on Tuesday, Corbin Martin and Elvin Rodriguez were DFA'd to make room on the 40-man roster.

Orioles manager Tony Mansolino said that Mateo (hamstring) won't be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mansolino noted that Mateo hasn't suffered a setback since beginning his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 20, but the utility player looks like he'll need at least a couple more games in the minors to pick up at-bats before the Orioles are comfortable adding him back to the roster. Mateo has been on the shelf since June 10, initially because of an inflamed left elbow before he strained his left hamstring later that month during a rehab assignment.

Mateo (hamstring) appears on track to be activated from the 60-day injured list Sept. 1, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Orioles' active roster will expand from 26 to 28 men Sept. 1, which should make it easier for the club to facilitate Mateo's reinstatement. Mateo, who has resided on the IL since early June due to an inflamed left elbow and then a strained left hamstring, has slashed .375/.400/.500 with one home run and two stolen bases through the first seven games of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. Mateo projects to fill a utility role for Baltimore once he's activated.

Mateo (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mateo has been on the injured list since early June first due to left elbow inflammation and then a strained left hamstring, the latter of which he suffered during a rehab game on June 29. The veteran speedster should be able to rejoin the Orioles in early September, but Mateo is unlikely to serve as more than a pinch runner and defensive replacement down the stretch as a youth movement begins to take shape in Baltimore.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Aug. 6 that Mateo (hamstring) has resumed running and appears on track to return from the 60-day injured list in early September, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mateo was initially placed on the IL on June 10 due to left elbow inflammation, but he sustained a left hamstring strain a few weeks later during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk that has significantly delayed his return to the active roster. The utility player has begun to make some strides in his recovery and is "starting to get up to some higher speeds on the ground," according to Mansolino, but a more definitive timeline for Mateo's return from the IL likely won't become available until he's cleared to resume playing in minor-league games.

The Orioles transferred Mateo (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Initially placed on the IL on June 7 due to left elbow inflammation, Mateo was on the cusp of returning before he suffered a significant left hamstring strain during a rehab game with Triple-A Norfolk last Sunday. The Orioles are expecting him to miss two or more months due to the hamstring injury, so his move to the 60-day IL won't affect his return timeline. The transaction opened up a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Alex Jackson, acquired from the Yankees on Sunday.

Mateo was diagnosed with a strained left hamstring Tuesday and is expected to miss 8-12 weeks, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mateo landed on the injured list in early June due to elbow inflammation. However, after suffering a hamstring injury during a rehab game at Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, it now seems likely that his absence will extend into September. As a result, Luis Vazquez, who was selected from Triple-A as Mateo's roster replacement, will likely remain with the big club as bench depth for the foreseeable future.

Mateo (elbow) was pulled from a rehab game Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk due to a hamstring issue, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mateo has been working his way back from left elbow inflammation and was participating in his fourth game of a rehab assignment before sustaining the setback. He's expected to undergo further evaluation in the coming days, so be on the lookout for an update on the severity of the injury.