40 Man

When Boston Red Sox pitching phenomenon Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his first visit to Camden Yards today, he won't see any familiar faces from Japan on the other side of the field. In fact, Matsuzaka, who isn't scheduled to pitch in the two-game series, would have to burrow deep into the Orioles' farm system to find its lone Asian player: a Double-A pitcher who has yet to throw a ball in an affiliated game. In an ever-expanding global market, the Orioles are the only team in the American League East without a Far East presence on the 25-man big league roster.

Unable to make a big splash in free agency, the Orioles created more ripples yesterday with the signing of catcher Greg Myers to a two-year contract, of which the terms were not announced.He'll provide another left-handed bat for manager Mike Hargrove, as well as the experience and tools that were missing last season after Lenny Webster's release in July.Myers, 33, had agreed to terms during the winter meetings in Anaheim, Calif., but the Orioles delayed an announcement until receiving the results of his physical.

BaseballAthletics: Added 3B Adam Piatt, P Chris Enochs, IF Josue Espada, P Kevin Gregg, P Leoner Vasquez and P Eric DuBose to 40-man roster.Blue Jays: Purchased contracts of P Clayton Andrews, P Pasqual Coco, P John Sneed, C Josh Phelps, OF Andy Thompson and SS Mike Young. Released C Mike Matheny.Cardinals: Purchased contracts of 1B Chris Richard from Triple-A Memphis and P John Ambrose, P Justin Brunette and P Gene Stechschulte from Double-A Arkansas.Cubs: Purchased contracts of P Chad Ricketts, P Chris Gissell, P Mike Meyers, P Ruben Quevedo and P Scott Downs from Triple-A Iowa.

BasketballHornets: Waived F Tyrone Grant.BaseballCubs: Purchased contract of P Danny Young from Triple-A Iowa.Marlins: Purchased contracts of P Scott Comer and P Claudio Vargas from Triple-A Calgary and IF Pablo Ozuna, P Brad Penny and P Gary Knotts from Double-A Portland. Sent P Mike Drumright and OF Jaime Jones outright to Calgary. Announced P Brent Billingsley has been claimed off waivers by Expos.Mets: Added P Dicky Gonzalez to 40-man roster. Announced IF Maurice Bruce cleared waivers and sent him outright to Triple-A Norfolk.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- As expected, the Orioles were nothing more than spectators in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Though two players below the 40-man roster limit, they passed with the 13th selection.Had the Orioles made a selection, it would have cost them $50,000. They would have needed to keep the player on the active roster through the season or offer him back to the original club for half the price.Director of player personnel Syd Thrift said the Orioles couldn't afford to carry a fringe player while expecting to contend next season.

The Orioles added reliever Norm Charlton to the 40-man roster yesterday and designated pitcher Hector Ramirez for assignment. Charlton, 35, who was signed to a minor-league contract on Dec. 15, will vie for a setup role and provide another option at closer after the departure of Randy Myers.Charlton was guaranteed $350,000 upon signing, a figure that would have jumped to $650,000 if he made the major-league roster. Assistant general manager Kevin Malone said yesterday that the increase now will take place on a fixed date toward the end of spring training, before the Orioles' March 31 season opener against the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards.

DETROIT -- Out of patience and more importantly out of spots on the 40-man roster, the Orioles yesterday released left-handed reliever Norm Charlton.The decision was ostensibly made to create room for Jimmy Key, who came off the disabled list and is scheduled to start tomorrow. However, releasing Charlton also creates a vacancy on the Orioles' 40-man roster, significant given the approach of Friday night's waiver deadline and an anticipated rush of trades.The Orioles remain interested in obtaining a starting pitcher to help their push for the wild card.

BaseballAthletics: Selected P Juan Perez from Triple-A Edmonton and placed him on the 40-man roster. Outrighted P Willie Adams, P Bill King, P Dave Telgheder, P Tim Kubinski and OF Mike Neill to Edmonton.Blue Jays: Named Sal Butera third-base coach and Marty Pevey bullpen coach and catching instructor. Retained Jim Lett, bench coach; Mel Queen, pitching coach; and Gary Matthews, batting coach; for 1999.Indians: Released former Orioles IF Jeff Manto and IF Ricky Gutierrez.Marlins: Claimed OF Bruce Aven off waivers from Indians.

BaseballAngels: Added P Mark Harriger, P Ramon Ortiz and P Scott Schoeneweis to 40-man roster. Signed P Brett Grebe, P Michael Hartung, P Luis Pote, P Norman Montoya, P Kevin Lomon, P Jeff Ware, P Mike Fyrhie, P Kevin Troutman, P Travis Thurmond, P Mike Bovee, P Joe Jacobsen, P DeSean Warren, P Darren Winston, C-1B-3B Steve Decker, 3B Tim Unroe, former Orioles 2B-SS Jeff Huson, 1B-OF Benji Simonton, OF Eddie Christian, OF-1B-3B Jason Herrick and SS Loyce...

The Orioles announced yesterday they have added five players to their 40-man roster: C Chip Alley, IF Ivanon Coffie, IF Jesse Garcia, LHP Carlos Medina and RHP Gabe Molina.Pitchers (17): RHP Armando Benitez, RHP Darin Blood, RHP Rocky Coppinger, LHP Radhames Dyk- hoff, RHP Scott Erickson, RHP Chris Fussell, RHP Juan Guzman, LHP Doug Johns, RHP Scott Kamieniecki, Medina, Molina, RHP Julio Moreno, RHP Mike Mussina, LHP Jesse Orosco, RHP Sidney Ponson, LHP Arthur Rhodes, RHP Mike Timlin.Catchers (4)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Chris Ray's return to effective late-inning relief started with his getting healthy again. It continued with the realization that he could no longer blow fastballs by everybody. "When I was in college and my early years of pro ball, I was able just to throw it by guys," said Ray, the Orioles' closer before he had ligament-reconstruction surgery on his right elbow in August 2007. "Now, I'm working more on pitching to contact. I'm not trying to go out there and strike everybody out like I had been in the past.

The Orioles officially added a veteran pitcher to their 40-man roster yesterday, announcing that left-hander Mark Hendrickson passed his physical and has agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. It could increase to $2 million if he pitches and/or starts enough games to earn incentives. Hendrickson, 34, has a career 50-63 record and a 5.07 ERA over parts of seven seasons. He went 7-8 in 2008 with a 5.45 ERA in 36 games (19 starts) for the Florida Marlins. The versatile pitcher, 6 feet 9, could get an opportunity to win a spot in the rotation behind Jeremy Guthrie but for now is being penciled in as a long reliever.

To make room on their 40-man roster for a quintet of injured pitchers, the Orioles released 2002 first-round draft pick Adam Loewen yesterday and outrighted five players to Triple-A. Loewen's release essentially terminates the left-hander's major league contract but almost certainly does not mean the end of his relationship with the organization, club president Andy MacPhail said. "This was something that was talked about ... and was expected by both the player and his representative," MacPhail said.

Steve Trachsel was throwing a lot of pitches yesterday. And throwing to first base. And tugging on his jersey. And adjusting his cap. And asking for a conference with his catcher. And throwing to first base again. And circling his favorite programs in TV Guide. Let's speed it up. Livan Hernandez isn't getting any younger, you know. Trachsel threw 90 pitches in four innings. Strange ... it only felt like 89 to me. I'm not sure Jon Knott has a position. His reputation in the minors was built with his bat, not his glove.

When Boston Red Sox pitching phenomenon Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his first visit to Camden Yards today, he won't see any familiar faces from Japan on the other side of the field. In fact, Matsuzaka, who isn't scheduled to pitch in the two-game series, would have to burrow deep into the Orioles' farm system to find its lone Asian player: a Double-A pitcher who has yet to throw a ball in an affiliated game. In an ever-expanding global market, the Orioles are the only team in the American League East without a Far East presence on the 25-man big league roster.

On Roger Clemens I'm so sick of this guy and how MLB caters to him. You would think there would be some kind of MLB rule that would stop this. I don't know why this attention hound hasn't done a reality show. He should at least be required to be on someone's 40-man roster at the beginning of the season.

No longer willing to go with six starters, the Orioles have moved Rodrigo Lopez to the bullpen - an assignment that could last the rest of the season. Lopez has experience working in relief and could be used in the later innings, especially while LaTroy Hawkins remains unavailable with a groin injury. It's not like manager Sam Perlozzo has a lot of reliable options at the moment. The Orioles also have added Brian Burres and Sendy Rleal to the bullpen, and they designated catcher Danny Ardoin for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Burres (who looks like he's 12 years old)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Orioles took a step toward shoring up their inexperienced bullpen yesterday, but enough uncertainty remains that they continue to check the waiver wire and discuss trade options for another reliever. Before their final home game of the spring at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, the Orioles announced they had added right-hander Jim Brower to their 40-man roster, basically securing an Opening Day spot for the 33-year-old veteran who had been a nonroster invitee. "I think that we need some experience out in the bullpen and he has done it before in the big leagues," Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said of Brower.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- No matter what happens this season, Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo may already have had his longest night of the year. "I didn't sleep at all [Tuesday]," said Perlozzo, who is in his first training camp as manager after 19 years as a coach. "I got up at 4 o'clock in the morning and rolled around. Then 5 o'clock, then 5:30, and I said, `Holy cow.' At quarter of 6, I said, `Just give it up.' And I got up." Perlozzo, who was named interim manager in August when Lee Mazzilli was fired and given the full-time job this winter, will run a team that has had eight straight losing seasons.

The Orioles today announced that they have signed six players to minor league contracts, including former Oriole Luis Lopez. All six players were invited to the club's major league spring training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. In addition to Lopez, veteran infielder Desi Relaford, right-handed pitchers Jim Brower and Ryan Jensen and left-handers John Halama and Vic Darensbourg were invited to camp. Lopez, an 11-year veteran who played for the Orioles in 2002 and 2004, hit .222 in 17 games for the Cincinnati Reds last year before suffering a season-ending hamstring tear June 19. M Relaford, a 10-year veteran, batted .224 with a home run and 16 RBIs in 73 games for the Colorado Rockies.