FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo seems resigned to having left fielder Jay Payton begin the season on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury, which creates a second issue as Opening Day approaches:
Will the Orioles carry an extra outfielder, one who could serve as a defensive replacement, to compensate for Payton's absence?
Perlozzo told reporters yesterday that Payton's Grade 1 hamstring strain, which occurred in the first inning of Monday's game in Fort Myers, hasn't influenced whether the team will keep 12 or 13 pitchers. But he also noted that a defensive-oriented outfielder could become a higher priority.
His choices became clearer after yesterday's cuts. Adam Stern and Freddie Bynum remain in camp, and, earlier in the day, Perlozzo described them as players who best fit the profile because they can handle all three positions.
Meanwhile, the Orioles optioned pitcher Sean Tracey to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned outfielder Jon Knott and catcher Eli Whiteside to minor league camp. They also announced that outfielder Ruddy Yan, infielders Cesar Crespo, Mike Cervenak and Terry Tiffee, catcher J.R. House and pitchers Andy Mitchell and Steve Green will remain with the club through the rest of the exhibition schedule before being reassigned.
Another possibility beyond Stern and Bynum is Kansas City Royals outfielder Reggie Sanders. The Orioles and Royals have had several discussions about the veteran right-handed hitter in recent days, according to an industry source. Kansas City is seeking a reliever, but any deal most likely would hinge on the team's picking up most of Sanders' $5 million contract for 2007. The Orioles, in turn, would have to make sure they could provide enough at-bats for Sanders to keep him happy.
Early estimates have Payton missing one to three weeks.
"Hamstrings are more than day-to-day, but I don't want to guess," Perlozzo said. "It's still sore. To me, it sounds like it's more than a couple days."
Perlozzo will delay finalizing his roster until he has a clearer read on Payton's condition.
Payton missed about seven weeks of the 1998 season with a badly torn right hamstring while playing in the minors. This injury isn't nearly as severe, but it still could remove him from the starting lineup for Monday's opener in Minnesota.
