40 Man Roster

When the Orioles outrighted Steve Pearce to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, there was obvious murmuring that the club must be ready to make another 40-man roster move. The timing, admittedly, is curious. But I've been told there are no roster moves pending as of late Saturday afternoon. I was also told by a joking member of the organization not to worry: Dan Duquette will use that 40-man spot. Duquette's not one to waste a roster opening. He will find someone for it. It's just that that someone is not earmarked for it at this moment.

The Orioles have signed the remaining 17 players on their 40-man roster that had zero to three years service time. All received one-year contracts. They are: Right-handers Jake Arrieta, Zach Clark, Miguel Gonzalez, Steve Johnson, Pedro Strop and Chris Tillman; Lefties Zach Britton, Mike Belfiore and T.J. McFarland; catcher Luis Exposito; outfielders L.J. Hoes and Xavier Avery and infielders Ryan Flaherty, Manny Machado, Yamaico Navarro, Jonathan Schoop and Danny Valencia. All players on the 40-man roster are now signed for 2013.

The Orioles have signed the remaining 17 players on their 40-man roster that had zero to three years service time. All received one-year contracts. They are: Right-handers Jake Arrieta, Zach Clark, Miguel Gonzalez, Steve Johnson, Pedro Strop and Chris Tillman; Lefties Zach Britton, Mike Belfiore and T.J. McFarland; catcher Luis Exposito; outfielders L.J. Hoes and Xavier Avery and infielders Ryan Flaherty, Manny Machado, Yamaico Navarro, Jonathan Schoop and Danny Valencia. All players on the 40-man roster are now signed for 2013.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Zach Clark's professional baseball career has had its share of bumps and turns, just like those long bus trips through the minor leagues as he clutched the dream of one day breaking into the big leagues. "A lot of ups and downs," Clark, a UMBC product, said with smile Thursday. "More than you'd really think. It's been a journey. " After seven years toiling in the minors, the 29-year-old right-hander finally has the feeling that reaching the majors in within grasp.

The Orioles are looking to take the rubber match of this three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field.  The teams are tied for first place in the AL East with identical 30-23 records. Newcomer Steve Pearce, who arrived in Tampa Bay around 8 p.m. yesterday, will immediately jump into the lineup, starting in right field and hitting eighth. Pearce seems to know a few guys in the clubhouse. He played with Ronny Paulino in Pittsburgh and attended South Carolina with Steve Tolleson.

In preparation for setting their roster before December's Rule 5 draft, the Orioles added two players to their 40-man roster on Tuesday, infielder Jonathan Schoop and left-hander Mike Belfiore. To make room, the Orioles took pitcher Oliver Drake off the roster and outrighted him to Triple-A Norfolk. Schoop, 21, was the organization's 2011 minor league player of the year and held his own at Double-A Bowie (.245 average and .324 on-base percentage) in 2012 despite being one of the youngest players at that level.

WASHINGTON - Once considered a key member of the Orioles' young rotation, right-hander Brad Bergesen will be pitching for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday without a spot on the organization's 40-man roster. That's something he hasn't done in more than four years. "It's been an interesting process, something I've gone through for the first time, kind of the in-limbo phase," said Bergesen, who was taken off the 40-man roster Friday when the Orioles made room for Bill Hall . "There was some unknown, whether I'd be playing for another team … I was kind of on pins and needles.

When the playoff microscope gets rolled out next week and experts begin to dissect the Orioles - assuming they hold on to at least an American League wild-card spot - one of the primary criticisms is going to be the club's overall lack of postseason experience. No current Orioles player has won a World Series. Only four players on the current 40-man roster, not including those on the 60-day disabled list, have played in one - designated hitter Jim Thome in 1995 and 1997 with the Cleveland Indians, outfielder Endy Chavez with the 2011 Texas Rangers and pitchers Tommy Hunter and Darren O'Day with the 2010 Rangers.

The Orioles have placed right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom on the disabled list with a right middle finger injury in order to make space on the 25-man roster for tonight's starter, left-hander Dana Eveland. Eveland's contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles designated minor-leaguer Zelous Wheeler for assignment in a corresponding 40-man roster move. Lindstrom allowed his first earned runs of the season in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader (3 runs, two earned, in one inning)

Orioles right-hander Alfredo Simon has been placed on waivers, according to multiple industry sources. He was put on outright waivers. No announcement is expected from the team until he is claimed or clears. Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said waiver information is confidential, but said as of now, Simon is on the Orioles' 40-man roster. He would not comment further. Simon recently missed nine games with a groin injury that forced him from a start against the Yankees on March 18. He returned on Wednesday, but allowed six runs on six hits in two innings of relief work.

When the Orioles outrighted Steve Pearce to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, there was obvious murmuring that the club must be ready to make another 40-man roster move. The timing, admittedly, is curious. But I've been told there are no roster moves pending as of late Saturday afternoon. I was also told by a joking member of the organization not to worry: Dan Duquette will use that 40-man spot. Duquette's not one to waste a roster opening. He will find someone for it. It's just that that someone is not earmarked for it at this moment.

In preparation for setting their roster before December's Rule 5 draft, the Orioles added two players to their 40-man roster on Tuesday, infielder Jonathan Schoop and left-hander Mike Belfiore. To make room, the Orioles took pitcher Oliver Drake off the roster and outrighted him to Triple-A Norfolk. Schoop, 21, was the organization's 2011 minor league player of the year and held his own at Double-A Bowie (.245 average and .324 on-base percentage) in 2012 despite being one of the youngest players at that level.

One of several offseason roster deadlines arrived tonight at midnight, when teams must set their 40-man rosters for next month's Rule 5 draft. The Orioles must place certain players with minor-league experience on their 40-man or risk losing them in the Rule 5. Last season, the Orioles selected infielder Ryan Flaherty from the Cubs in the Rule 5. Teams must keep Rule 5 picks on their major league roster for the entire season or pass the player through...

The Orioles added pitcher Zach Clark to their 40-man roster, the club announced Wednesday. Clark -- who pitched at UMBC -- had a breakout season that largely went under the radar, going 15-7 with a 2.78 ERA in 28 games this past season at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He was signed in 2006 as an undrafted free agent by local scout Dean Albany and has compiled a 49-44 record with a 3.68 ERA in seven minor league seasons in the Orioles farm system. Clark, a Wilmington, Del., native was a dominant pitcher at Norfolk, going 5-2 with a 1.75 ERA there in eight games (seven starts)

When the playoff microscope gets rolled out next week and experts begin to dissect the Orioles - assuming they hold on to at least an American League wild-card spot - one of the primary criticisms is going to be the club's overall lack of postseason experience. No current Orioles player has won a World Series. Only four players on the current 40-man roster, not including those on the 60-day disabled list, have played in one - designated hitter Jim Thome in 1995 and 1997 with the Cleveland Indians, outfielder Endy Chavez with the 2011 Texas Rangers and pitchers Tommy Hunter and Darren O'Day with the 2010 Rangers.

TORONTO -- The Orioles have purchased the contract of left-handed reliever Zach Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk before this afternoon's series opener in Toronto. Phillips was told before Sunday's Tides game that he was being recalled and arrived in Toronto on Sunday night. Phillips will give the Orioles a third left-handed reliever for the September playoff push, joining Brian Matusz and Randy Wolf, both of whom have spent most of their careers as starters. Phillips has actually been better against right-handed hitters this season, holding them to a .237 mark, but his numbers against lefties have improved in the second half of the season.

The Orioles added pitcher Zach Clark to their 40-man roster, the club announced Wednesday. Clark -- who pitched at UMBC -- had a breakout season that largely went under the radar, going 15-7 with a 2.78 ERA in 28 games this past season at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He was signed in 2006 as an undrafted free agent by local scout Dean Albany and has compiled a 49-44 record with a 3.68 ERA in seven minor league seasons in the Orioles farm system. Clark, a Wilmington, Del., native was a dominant pitcher at Norfolk, going 5-2 with a 1.75 ERA there in eight games (seven starts)

The Orioles are in such a strange position right now that it's hard to predict what they'll do in several areas. One is September call-ups. Manager Buck Showalter isn't showing his hand. It's obvious he would love to have super prospect Dylan Bundy at his disposal next month. The 19-year-old Bundy pitches Sunday for Double-A Bowie, and, honestly, it's becoming increasingly apparent that if the Orioles are still in the race - and they'd have to absolutely collapse not to be by next week - Bundy will be here.

Moments after striking out 10 in the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, lefty Zach Britton was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. This makes room for left-hander Randy Wolf, who  will be activated tomorrow and added to the 25-man roster. With major league rosters expanding on Saturday and Norfolk's regular-season ending Monday, Britton could quickly return to the Orioles and take his regular turn in the rotation Tuesday. Wolf, released by the Milwaukee Brewers Aug. 22, was added to the 40-man roster, which didn't require a corresponding move.

The Orioles are in such a strange position right now that it's hard to predict what they'll do in several areas. One is September call-ups. Manager Buck Showalter isn't showing his hand. It's obvious he would love to have super prospect Dylan Bundy at his disposal next month. The 19-year-old Bundy pitches Sunday for Double-A Bowie, and, honestly, it's becoming increasingly apparent that if the Orioles are still in the race - and they'd have to absolutely collapse not to be by next week - Bundy will be here.