Brad Bergesen

ARLINGTON, Texas -Needing reinforcements for a taxed bullpen, the Orioles on Wednesday recalled relievers Radhames Liz and Matt Albers from Triple-A Norfolk to take the roster spots of third baseman Melvin Mora and starting pitcher Alfredo Simon, who were placed on the 15-day disabled list. Mora has a left hamstring strain and won't be eligible to return until April 28. Simon, the Orioles' No. 3 starter, who left Tuesday's start after 1 1/3 innings because of elbow pain, is expected to be out for at least a month if not much longer after tests done Wednesday in Baltimore revealed damage in his right elbow.

Now that the Orioles have declined the $11 million option for next year on Mark Reynolds, the club has two options to try to keep the 29-year-old first baseman. Since Reynolds has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining, the Orioles could tender a contract to Reynolds and hope to sign him for less through the arbitration process. Reynolds made $7.5 million last season, and it's very rare to see players take a pay cut going through arbitration. So even though Reynolds had a down year offensively, he would still figure to make in the $9 million range through the arbitration process.

CLEVELAND - The Orioles may have found a defensive stopgap for second base Friday, and they officially cut ties with a pitcher once expected to be part of the franchise's future. It wasn't exactly a pre-trade deadline blockbuster, but the Orioles sent cash to the New York Mets on Friday for 30-year-old infielder Omar Quintanilla , who was designated for assignment earlier this week. The Orioles had an opening on their 40-man roster after designating right-hander Brad Bergesen on Wednesday.

The Orioles decided Monday not to tender a 2012 contract to outfielder Luke Scott, allowing their 2010 Most Valuable Oriole to become a free agent, according to an industry source. The decision is not a surprise considering that Scott, 33, batted just .220 and was limited to 64 games because of a torn labrum. Scott's 2011 salary was $6.4 million, and through arbitration he could have made at least $6 million in 2012. Manager Buck Showalter did not confirm the nontender but seemed resigned to it when he was reached by telephone late Monday afternoon.

It certainly seemed improbable eight months ago, when the pain in Brad Bergesen's left shin was so intense that he would lie in bed at night in a cold sweat, feeling like he was about to pass out. He didn't feel much better about his chances eight weeks before the start of spring training, when he couldn't throw a ball 50 feet without excruciating pain in his shoulder. But after months of dealing with pain and little progress, after one significant setback followed by a rapid recovery, Bergesen will emerge from the home dugout at 3:03 p.m. Friday, take his usual hop over the first-base foul line and throw the first official pitch of the 2010 season at Camden Yards against the Toronto Blue Jays.

For much of the season, Orioles starting pitcher Brian Matusz has tried to put a positive spin on his disastrous year, promising to work hard and attempt to turn around 2011 while he still could. The Orioles' 10-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Sunday was Matusz's last chance of the year, and he walked away with another rough outcome, allowing six runs, including two homers, in five innings pitched. Afterward, the 24-year-old left-hander reflected on his 2011, which included a protracted spring due to minor health issues and then an intercostal muscle strain that basically cost him two months.

This week, the Milwaukee Brewers made a bold move by trading for pitcher CC Sabathia, surrendering four minor league players to the Cleveland Indians to acquire the reigning Cy Young Award winner and pending free agent. They haven't seen the playoffs since beating out the Orioles on the final day of the 1982 season. They're going for it in 2008. (They're also finding out that Sabathia doesn't look any slimmer in their uniform, but I digress.) The Chicago Cubs, trying to hold off the Brewers in the National League Central, delivered a counterpunch Tuesday night by acquiring pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, outfielder/infielder Eric Patterson and a minor league catcher.

The starting pitching woes of their parent club have been well documented, but the Double-A Bowie Baysox certainly cannot relate to the Orioles' problems. For all the talk about Eastern League Most Valuable Player Lou Montanez and top prospect Matt Wieters, the Baysox's rotation has been the backbone of the Southern Division champions. Bowie will start its playoff run tomorrow as a best-of-five series against the Akron Aeros begins at Prince George's Stadium. "There's been great continuity," Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin said.

Always the optimist, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he arrived at Camden Yards on Sunday morning, hours before the Orioles routed the Atlanta Braves 11-2, before an announced 26,770, with the unequivocal feeling that his tortured offense had turned it around. The only evidence in Trembley's favor was the slumbering Orioles' six-run seventh in Saturday night's win over the Braves. Still, he had a good feeling - better than usual, he stressed. "Because [Saturday] night gave me, and I think, gave the guys, a real feeling that the worst is behind us and let's focus on today and go forward," Trembley said.