40 Man

The Baltimore Orioles have added second baseman Mike Fontenot and catcher Eli Whiteside to the 40-man major league roster, the team announced today. Also, LHP Ryan Hannaman has been sent outright to AAA Ottawa. Fontenot, the Orioles' first pick in the 2001 draft, batted .279 with 8 home runs and 49 RBI for AAA Ottawa last season. He led the International League with 10 triples and led the Lynx with 220 total bases. Whiteside, the Orioles' 6th pick in the 2001 draft, hit .253 with 18 homers and 60 RBI at AA Bowie and was selected to play in the Eastern League All-Star Game.

Moves Baseball ATHLETICS: Declined to exercise contract options of OF Jermaine Dye and P Chris Hammond. Sent outright P Kirk Saarloos, C Mike Rose, IF Esteban German, IF Graham Koonce, OF Mike Edwards and OF Billy McMillon to Triple-A Sacramento. Purchased contract of OF Nelson Cruz from Sacramento. BRAVES: Assigned P Tim Drew and P Travis Smith outright to their minor league camp and announced they will be free agents. Activated IF Carlos Guzman from 15-day DL and released him. DODGERS: Declined to exercise contract option of P Elmer Dessens.

Needing room on their 40-man roster, the Orioles have removed backup infielders Jose Leon and Luis Lopez, and reserve catcher Robert Machado. All three players passed through waivers, refused outright assignments to Triple-A Ottawa and became free agents. Leon didn't play after Sept. 26 because of a strained left calf muscle that he's rehabbing in Puerto Rico. He batted .322 with 17 homers at Ottawa, but only .182 with two homers in 31 games with the Orioles. Lopez spent the entire season with the Orioles after beating out Clay Bellinger for the utility job in spring training.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Sitting behind his desk in the visiting manager's office before a recent game against the Texas Rangers, his team buried beneath a pile of defeats and injury reports, Lee Mazzilli was asked if he looked forward to rosters expanding tomorrow. "Gee, do you think so?" he replied, before checking his watch for an imaginary countdown. Mazzilli rattled off the days, hours and minutes. He left out the seconds, but only because his point had been made. OK, silly question. Mazzilli stopped short of pulling out a shopping list, but it's clear he wants another catcher to ease the burden on Javy Lopez, whose lower back and knees scream louder than any fan. Geronimo Gil, last year's Opening Day starter, appears certain to join the team because he's the only catcher on the 40-man roster.

Needing to provide more rest for Javy Lopez, who has missed only two games this year, the Orioles claimed catcher Ken Huckaby off waivers from the Texas Rangers and added him to the 40-man roster. A corresponding move on the 25-man roster will be made today, when Huckaby reports to the Orioles. The Orioles intend to carry three catchers, including backup Robert Machado. The arrangement will allow them to sit Lopez more easily for entire games or use him as the designated hitter without having to use him behind the plate in the late innings if they pinch hit for Huckaby or Machado.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - As the Orioles conclude another morning workout, with players gathering on the main field for some last-minute instruction, the sky suddenly grows dark, as if a switch has been flicked to the down position. A large shadow encases each uniformed body, and it's no longer necessary to squint. Have storm clouds moved in, or is Walter Young blocking the sun again? Young is listed at 6 feet 5, 296 pounds, but he's about more than just size. The Orioles weren't looking for a defensive lineman when they claimed him off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in November, though he played end for his Mississippi high school.

On a day major league teams had to set their 40-man rosters, the Orioles set theirs at 35 yesterday, adding some top pitching prospects, but leaving room for some important moves to come. A slew of players came off the roster when their contracts expired - a group including Albert Belle, Scott Erickson, Tony Batista, Brook Fordyce and Pat Hentgen - and the Orioles are in the process of finding their replacements. "We feel we've got some flexibility within this roster," said Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie.