Sarfate clears waivers, O's assign him to minors

Reliever will receive spring training invitation

Reliever Dennis Sarfate, who was designated for assignment last week when the Orioles re-signed Miguel Tejada, has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

Sarfate, 28, was 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in 20 games last year for the Orioles after going 4-3 with a 4.74 ERA in 2008.

He missed nearly four months last year with a circulatory condition that caused numbness in his right hand, but he came back in September and then pitched in the Mexican Winter League.

He will still get an invite to spring training, but is no longer on the 40-man roster.