After missing more than 10 weeks with a nagging hip injury, outfielder Colby Rasmus returned to an Orioles team in transition Thursday, a move that was somewhat of a surprise.
The Orioles signed Rasmus, 31, in spring training hoping he would be a piece of a contending club, but the team’s fortunes have changed dramatically since he played his most recent game April 6, and the Orioles have started to turn toward the future, a move that should accelerate in the coming weeks as the nonwaiver trade deadline approaches at the end of next month.