Catcher

- In need of organizational catching depth, the Orioles claimed catcher Luis Exposito off waivers from the Red Sox, the club announced Tuesday. To make room for Exposito on the club's 40-man roster, the Orioles have designated third baseman Josh Bell for assignment. The Orioles signed Taylor Teagarden in the offseason to be Matt Wieters' backup but he is on the disabled list with back problems. That allowed non-roster invitee Ronny Paulino , who was likely to begin the season at Triple-A, to make the Orioles' 25-man roster out of camp.

Catcher Chris Snyder, whom the Orioles acquired Sunday from the Los Angeles Angels in a deal for minor league right-hander Rob Delaney, was at Safeco Field on Monday, but he has not been activated. The Orioles wanted to give Snyder a day to get acclimated, but they also are waiting on more information about injured reserve catcher Taylor Teagarden (dislocated left thumb), who will see a hand specialist on Tuesday. The initial prognosis for Teagarden's return is three to four weeks, but if it ends up being two months, the club could move Teagarden from the 15-day to 60-day DL. That way they would not have to make a corresponding move to add Snyder to the 40-man roster.

Orioles reserve catcher Taylor Teagarden woke up with back pain on Friday and has been shut down for at least a day or two. Teagarden missed a big chunk of last season after suffering a more serious back injury in spring training, but he said Friday's discomfort is not comparable to the problem that delayed his arrival in Baltimore last year until midseason. “[It was] real stiff, pretty achy this morning, a little more than normal," Teagarden said “Just want to be a little cautious, you know.

The Orioles have attempted to bolster their lack of catching depth by sending minor league right-hander Rob Delaney to the Los Angeles Angels organization for veteran catcher Chris Snyder. Snyder, 32, will meet the team in Seattle on Tuesday and presumably will take over the back-up catching void created when Taylor Teagarden dislocated his left thumb Saturday. The Orioles recalled Luis Exposito for Sunday's game - he did not play -- but now it is likely he will lose his place on the big league roster Tuesday with the pending arrival of Snyder, a veteran of parts of nine major league seasons.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, who agreed to terms Friday on a one-year deal in his first year of arbitration eligibility, said he is looking forward to going into the spring without his contract status looming over his head. The sides agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million for 2013, avoiding the arbitration process. The deadline to file arbitration figures was Friday at 1 p.m. “It's a good feeling,” Wieters said Friday night at the premiere of 'The BUCKLe Up Birds: An Underdog Story,' a movie about the team's 2012 season.

The Orioles' 16-9 start has obviously been caused by tremendous pitching - and specifically starting pitching. Orioles starters have thrown nine quality starts in their past 10 outings - and have a 1.65 ERA in that time. In the three-game series against the Yankees in New York - in which the Orioles won two of three for the first time since 2010 - the bullpen threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. But what might be getting a little bit lost so far this year is just how good catcher Matt Wieters has been.

Dan Duquette made his first trade as executive vice president of the Orioles on Thursday, filling the club's vacant reserve catcher spot by adding defensive-minded backstop Taylor Teagarden from a familiar partner, the Texas Rangers' organization. The Orioles acquired Teagarden, who spent most of last year at Triple-A Round Rock, for 21-year-old minor league right-hander Randy Henry and another minor leaguer. That player likely won't be announced until after next week's Rule 5 draft.

Earl Williams, a catcher who played for the Orioles in 1973 and 1974, died earlier this week at his home in Somerset, N.J., according to multiple reports. Williams, who was the 1971 National League Rookie of the Year while with the Atlanta Braves, was 64 and had been diagnosed with leukemia, according to the Newark Star-Ledger . He was traded from Atlanta to the Orioles as part of a deal for Pat Dobson, Roric Harrison, Davey Johnson and Johnny Oates in November of 1972. In his two seasons in Baltimore, he batted .245 with 36 home runs and 135 RBIs in 250 games.

A second Orioles minor-league catcher has been suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Progam. Michael Ohlman received a 50-game suspension for his second violation of the drug policy, the office of the commissioner of baseball announced Tuesday. The suspension was for a drug of abuse, which means it was not for use of a performance-enhancing drug. This spring, catcher Brian Ward also received a 50-game suspension. Ohlman's suspension will begin immediately, but he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during an automobile accident during spring training.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- This week, Chris Robinson will go from buried on the Orioles' organizational depth chart to starting catcher for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. When the Orioles' 40-man roster was finalized this offseason, the team had four catchers on the roster. The 29-year-old Robinson, who played 52 games last year at Triple-A Norfolk and has never played in the major leagues, wasn't one of them. “I've been here long enough to know that I'm not going to take Matt Wieters' job,” Robinson said.

The Orioles have decided to take advantage of a new rule that allows for the hiring of a seventh coach. Former big league catcher Einar Diaz, who was ticketed to be the field coach at Bowie, will now be an assistant major league coach, helping hitting coach Jim Presley as well as other members of Showalter's staff. “I've had Einar as a player [with the Texas Rangers in 2003],” Showalter said. “Einar is just a solid human being. He'll fit in real well to the clubhouse, pretty seamless.” Showalter said one of the most important things about Diaz is that he's a good batting practice pitcher, something needed with the departure of last year's third-base coach DeMarlo Hale.

Gus Triandos, a brawny slugger who won the hearts of Orioles fans starved for someone to cheer for in the 1950s, died Thursday at his home in San Jose, Calif. He was 82. "My father died in his sleep," his daughter, Lori Luna, said. "He'd been dealing with congestive heart failure for 10 years. It was hard for him to get up. "His heart just gave out. " A catcher and four-time All Star, Triandos played with the Orioles from 1955 through 1962 and was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 1981.

Laurel Park Bullet Catcher follows more traditional path, reaches winners' circle Bullet Catcher, who made local and national headlines Jan. 11 after escaping from the Laurel Park backside and taking a 1.6-mile journey on nearby roads, won his first race in nearly two years with an impressive performance in Friday's eighth race, a $40,000 allowance. Jerry Robb Jeremy Rose Abel Castellano Abel Castellano The 4-year-old gelding broke alertly then tracked the pace to the 16th marker before he surged ahead to win by 21/2 lengths in 1 minute, 4.71 seconds for the 51/2-furlong distance.

It's not exactly sunny Florida here today in Sarasota. It's been raining off and on most of the morning. The forecast has occasional thunderstorms predicted for 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. So, yes, there is a window to play. (I love writing window to play. Can't explain why.) Nolan Reimold is scheduled to play in left field today for the first time since March 1, when he first developed tightness is his right shoulder. He's been working up to this point while acting as the designated hitter for much of the spring.

Colleges Towson's Fratantuono earns CAA honor Towson junior outfielder Dominic Fratantuono (Cardinal Gibbons) was named Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. In five games, Fratantuono batted .545 while leading the Tigers to four victories. He went 12-for-22 with eight runs scored, three doubles, one home run and 11 RBIs. Other baseball honors: UMBC junior catcher Brandon Coluccio was named America East Player of the Week.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter and his staff spend the spring breaking down the game into increments of 90 feet - the distance between the basepaths. But one ninth-inning mistake in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Tampa Bay Rays -- a catcher's interference call on Luis Exposito that allowed the eventual winning run to score -- cost the Orioles a 4-3 decision in front of a record-setting announced 8,797 at Ed Smith Stadium. Rays top prospect Wil Myers laced a leadoff double to left-center off Orioles top prospect Dylan Bundy in the ninth, and he moved to third on a wild pitch by Bundy.

Adam Jones has proven his toughness all season long, playing through pain in both of his wrists, starting in center field in every game but one this season -- all while being hit by pitches 10 times, second most in the AL. But Orioles fans - and manager Buck Showalter - had to cringe during the team's five-run sixth inning in their 5-3 win over Boston on Wednesday night. That's when Jones lowered his left shoulder on a play at the plate and collided full force with Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

In his perfect world, Jake Fox would bat 500 times in a big league season. He would be an everyday force in the middle of a lineup. And, since this is his carefully painted picture, he would be with the Orioles, the club that rescued him from oblivion last June in a minor trade with the Oakland Athletics. Fox, though, is too busy for daydreaming right now. He's locked in a battle with Craig Tatum for the Orioles' backup catcher spot. He's taking grounders at first and third base and shagging fly balls in the outfield.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Catcher Chris Robinson returned to Orioles camp on Wednesday after playing a key role in a brawl in last week's World Baseball Classic pool play game between Canada and Mexico. Robinson, the starting catcher for Canada, reached on a bunt single in the ninth inning with Canada comfortably leading Mexico 9-3. The Mexican team didn't like that, and Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon threw two pitches near the next batter, Rene Tosoni, before plunking him with the third. That incited a benches clearing brawl.

George Horton ran a college baseball powerhouse at Cal State-Fullerton, the kind of program that had no place for someone like Kurt Suzuki. Horton had never seen or heard of Suzuki before a scout pal mentioned the high schooler in Hawaii. "We didn't know a whole heck of a lot about him," Horton said. "We heard from our network of friends that this little catcher from Maui wanted to come and walk on at Fullerton. " On an island with 160,000 permanent residents, Suzuki played against five or six high schools.