Minor Leagues

The Tampa Bay Rays, who will open their season Tuesday night against the Orioles, trimmed their roster to the 25-man limit by placing relief pitcher J.P. Howell on the 15-day disabled list (left shoulder strain) and reassigning pitcher Joaquin Benoit and infielder Hank Blalock to the minor leagues. Blalock, a former Texas Ranger, signed a minor league deal last month; the deal included a clause allowing him to try to sign with other teams if he was not going to be part of the roster coming out of spring training.

The Orioles have agreed to terms with well-traveled left-handed reliever J.C. Romero on a minor league deal, the club announced Thursday afternoon. Romero, 35, will be with his fourth organization since the beginning of the 2011 season. He was released by the Cardinals on May 14 after compiling a 10.13 ERA in eight relief innings. He had allowed nine runs in 3 1/3 innings in his past three outings before his release. He will report to the Orioles' Triple-A team in Norfolk.

Minor Leagues Yesterday Triple-A International League Ottawa 9, Buffalo 2: Pedro Swann hit three doubles (4-for-5) and scored four runs for the Lynx (83-58). Double-A Eastern League Bowie 9, Norwich 4: Ed Rogers homered for the Baysox (71-68). Single-A Carolina League Frederick 9, Lynchburg 6: Mike Done went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Keys (31-36). Single-A South Atlantic League Lakewood 0, Delmarva 0, suspended after 10 innings Lake County 8, Hagerstown 5: Aaron Hornostaj went 3-for-5, including a double, but the Suns (20-46)

There's probably no position player in major league baseball - maybe ever - who can truly understand the hype that Washington Nationals 19-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper has encountered on a daily basis. But Orioles catcher Matt Wieters might come the closest - or at least be the best-equipped big league hitter to offer a little wisdom in dealing with unreal anticipation. “My advice would be just to be himself. I think the hardest thing is trying to worry about living up to expectations of other people,” said Wieters, the fifth pick overall in the 2007 draft and a first-time All-Star last year at age 25. “[Harper]

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Kevin Harmon was hired to be the trainer for the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Orioles. In theory, his work as the team's traveling secretary is a secondary responsibility.Not this year. The strike has complicated the life of Harmon and other trainers/traveling secretaries throughout the minors, because there is going to be a mass of player movement."It's going to be very interesting," said Syd Thrift, the Orioles' director of player development.The complications begin right at the top. When minor-league seasons open this week, each team will be at or near its roster limit.

The Orioles have acquired left-handed minor-league reliever Mike Belfiore from the Diamondbacks as the player to be named later in the Josh Bell trade, the club announced Saturday. The 23-year-old was 0-0 with a 2.37 ERA with 28 strikeouts and just five walks in 19 innings this season with Arizona's high Class-A team in Visalia, Calif. This is the first season in Belfiore's four minor leagie seasons that he's pitching exclusively out of the bullpen. In four minor-league seasons, Belfiore is 9-16 with a 4.05 ERA and 267 strikeouts in 282 2/3 innings Bell, once seen as the Orioles' third baseman of the future, was acquired in July 2009 along with minor league pitcher Steve Johnson in the deadline deal that sent closer George Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Orioles have agreed to terms with veteran free-agent utility man Bill Hall, according to multiple industry sources. He will report to the club's Triple-A team in Norfolk and will replace Josh Bell, who was dealt to the Diamondbacks this weekend after he was designated for assignment. The Orioles like his glove at third base and his ability to hit for power against left-handed pitching. Hall spent most of his 10-year big-league career with Milwaukee, where he had a 35-homer, 85-RBI season in 2006, but the Orioles will be his seventh organization since the beginning of the 2009 season.

When Colorado Rockies left-hander Jamie Moyer became - at 49 - the oldest pitcher in history to win a major league game last Tuesday night, it probably didn't cross his mind that a few million middle-aged guys suddenly felt a little bit younger and lot more alive. It wasn't about that. It wasn't some quest to prove that life begins at almost 50, or to prove anybody wrong. It wasn't to write his name in the record book or write out Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Jack Quinn, who was a couple months younger when he set the record 80 years ago that Moyer just broke.

Josh Bell, once thought to be the club's third baseman of the future, is now an ex-Oriole. The Orioles traded the 25-year-old third baseman to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday for a player to be named later or cash considerations. “We didn't have a meeting of the minds for the player. So we are going to work on that for a short period of time,” said Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette. “It may or may not be a player. We assigned (Bell to Arizona) and it may or may not be a player, it may just be cash considerations.” The Orioles acquired Bell in July 2009 along with minor league pitcher Steve Johnson in the deadline deal that sent closer George Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis , who left Triple-A Norfolk's game Wednesday after nine pitches, has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a left forearm strain. Willis, whom the Orioles signed to a minor league deal late in spring, told the Virginian-Pilot that he "tweaked" his forearm yesterday and had been experiencing pain since spring training. “I've worked hard. Maybe it's overuse," Willis, who is being converted into a reliever, told the newspaper.

Lefty Dontrelle Willis, who signed a minor league deal with the Orioles late in the spring, left a game for Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday afternoon after throwing his ninth pitch in relief. Willis told the Virginian-Pilot that he had been dealing with pain since spring training and felt a knot in his forearm from the beginning of his outing Wednesday. “I tweaked my forearm,” Willis told the newspaper. “I've worked hard. Maybe it's overuse. " Given the fact he is trying to become a reliever and make a new team, Willis called the setback “frustrating, especially in the new position I'm in.” Willis was examined by the club's trainer, and the injury does not seem to be too serious.

The Orioles have signed 33-year-old right-hander Joel Pineiro to a minor league deal. He reported today to the club's extended spring complex in Sarasota, Fla., where he will work out with club trainers until he is ready to pitch in games - likely beginning at Triple-A Norfolk. Pineiro, who was 7-7 with a 5.13 ERA in 27 games (24 starts) with the Los Angeles Angels last year, was released by the Philadelphia Phillies in March after allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned)