Triple A

Orioles manager Buck Showalter knows the numbers don't add up. The Orioles were successful in strengthening their depth this offseason, but the glut of outfielders will make it difficult to keep all of them in the organization. “You guys have done the math,” Showalter told reporters Tuesday. Before Tuesday's Grapefruit League game in Fort Myers, the team reassigned outfielder Lew Ford to minor league camp with the hope that he will be in the mix for Triple-A at-bats, but knowing that there are only so many outfield spots in Norfolk.

After right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed six hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox, he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. It had little to do with how he pitched. The Orioles needed another arm in the bullpen after Thursday's 13-inning, 5-4 win . They used six relievers - and three threw more than one inning. Gausman has options, and most of the relief corps doesn't (only Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day could be sent to the minors without passing through waivers)

The road leading to the top prospects in the Orioles' organization no longer makes a wide detour around Rochester, N.Y., before cutting through the lower levels of the minor-league system. And it no longer is covered with skid marks from all the retreads who traveled to the club's Triple-A affiliate.Five of the Orioles' 10 leading prospects, as chosen last month by Baseball America, are expected to begin the coming season at Rochester. And a sixth, left-hander Matt Riley, could be there by the second half.

The Orioles reinstated left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. Wada, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2012, had to approve the move to Norfolk because of a clause in his contract. Wada will pitch a few more times at Triple-A Norfolk, and then the club will re-evaluate the situation and decide whether to promote him at that time, according to club executive vice president Dan Duquette.  The 32-year-old has been rehabbing at Norfolk since May 16, and his 30-day rehab window was scheduled to close Saturday.

The Orioles placed outfielder Mark Smith on the disabled list yesterday and called up pitcher Garrett Stephenson from Triple-A Rochester.Smith injured his left shin Monday night when he fouled a ball off his leg. He left that game immediately and has not played since. He was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Monday.Smith was on crutches for two days with a bone bruise but was walking with a limp yesterday and began working out. The injury comes at an inopportune time for Smith, who was 7-for-13 in his past five games after a 4-for-28 slump.

JUPITER, Fla. - Though never accused of being the most savvy of baseball players, Matt Riley could read the signs. He was out of options, and the Orioles were out of ideas. A trade was the only solution. With Riley unable to win the fifth starter's job this spring, the Orioles dealt the left-hander to the Texas Rangers yesterday for Triple-A center fielder Ramon Nivar. In a separate trade, the Orioles sent catcher Keith McDonald to the Rangers for future considerations. Nivar, 25, was on the Rangers' Opening Day roster last year, but spent most of the summer at Triple-A Oklahoma, where he batted .264 with 10 homers and 52 RBIs in 113 games.

Baseball Devil Rays: Optioned P Cory Lidle to Triple-A Durham. Dodgers: Recalled P Eric Gagne from Triple-A Albuquerque. Rangers: Placed OF Rusty Greer on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 13. Purchased OF Jason McDonald from Triple-A Oklahoma. Designated P Brian Sikorski for assignment. Sent P Justin Thompson to Single-A Port Charlotte on medical rehab assignment. Rockies: Activated P Jerry Dipoto from DL. Optioned P David Lee to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Tigers: Placed 2B Damion Easley on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 10. Called up P Jeff Weaver from Triple-A Toledo.

Baseball Padres: Recalled C Ben Davis from Triple- A Las Vegas. Rangers: Sent P Scott Randall to Triple-A Oklahoma and OF Scott Podsednik to Double-A Tulsa. Red Sox: Optioned P Paxton Crawford to Triple-A Pawtucket. Yankees: Bought the contract of P Dwight Gooden from Single-A Tampa. Optioned P Ben Ford to Triple-A Columbus. Basketball Bucks: Signed draft picks Joel Przybilla of Minnesota and Jason Hart of Syracuse to multi-year contracts.

Baseball Angels: Called up P Brian Cooper, P Mike Wise, 3B Jose Fernandez and C Jose Molina from Triple-A Salt Lake. Athletics: Acquired P Mike Fyhrie from Cubs for OF Michael Wenner. Braves: Transferred P Derrick Lewis from 15- to 60-day DL. Purchased contract of P Tim Spooneybarger from Triple-A Richmond. Recalled OF Corey Aldridge from Double-A Greenville. Cubs: Purchased contract of OF Chad Meyers from Triple-A Iowa. Devil Rays: Recalled IF Aubrey Huff and P Jason Standridge from Triple-A Durham.

Astros: Recalled P C. J. Nitkowski from Triple-A New Orleans.Braves: Recalled OF Curtis Pride (Silver Spring) and P Bruce Chen from Triple-A Richmond. Optioned IF Wes Helms to Eugene of the Northwest League. Placed P Mike Cather on 60-day DL. Recalled OF George Lombard from Double-A Greenville. Purchased contract of P Odalis Perez from Triple-A Richmond.Brewers: Activated 1B John Jaha from 15-day DL. Assigned P Al Reyes to Triple-A Louisville on rehabilitation assignment.Cardinals: Purchased contract of OF Joe McEwing from Triple-A Memphis.

In his sixth rehabilitation start for Triple-A Norfolk, left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada allowed eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks at Indianapolis. Wada struck out two batters and allowed a grand slam to Brett Carroll in the first inning. He's allowed at least three runs in five of his six rehab starts and has an 8.14 ERA with the Tides. Wada, 32, had Tommy John surgery last May. He signed a two-year, $8.15 million contract with the Orioles before the 2012 season but has never thrown a pitch for the Orioles.

HOUSTON -- With Steve Johnson going on the disabled list and right fielder Nick Markakis away from the team due to the death of his paternal grandmother, the Orioles decided to call up outfielder Xavier Avery to give the team some bench depth on Thursday. Avery did not play in the game and was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk after the game. The team is expected to call up a reliever Friday. Avery, a 23-year-old left-handed hitter with speed, batted .192 in 15 games at Triple-A Norfolk after hitting .300 in 39 games at Double-A Bowie this year.

The Orioles signed veteran right-hander Jon Rauch to a minor league deal, and the reliever will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, the team announced Saturday. Rauch, 34, started the season with the Miami Marlins before he was released on May 23 after going 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in 15 games. He allowed 23 hits and 14 runs in 16 2/3 innings for the Marlins. He allowed runs in seven of his 14 relief appearances with Miami. Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said the club had interest in Rauch in the offseason, but the two sides couldn't agree on a deal.

Even Ryan Flaherty was surprised when he received a call Wednesday morning telling him he was being recalled by the Orioles after just eight games at Triple-A Norfolk. When the Orioles sent Flaherty to the minors, the purpose was to get him more at-bats so he could regain his comfort offensively. But the move to bring him back right after he completed the mandatory 10-day minor league option window was made so he could solidify the second base position defensively. The move also quickly ended the Orioles' experiment at second base with Yamaico Navarro, who was optioned to Norfolk to make room for Flaherty.

TORONTO - Right-hander Jake Arrieta , who hasn't pitched in 16 days, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk before Thursday's game to make space on the 25-man roster for starter Kevin Gausman . Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the team was deciding between "two or three" possible moves but decided it was most important to get Arrieta back on the mound. While disappointed, Arrieta agreed. "I need to get innings," Arrieta said Thursday. "I need to pitch in games, whether it's here or there.

To clear a roster spot for right-hander Miguel Gonzalez's return from the disabled list Tuesday, the Orioles optioned right-hander Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk after just one start with the big league club. The move created a vacant spot in the starting rotation for Thursday's game in Toronto. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that the leading candidates to fill that spot are right-hander Jake Arrieta and left-hander T.J. McFarland, depending on how the two are used out of the bullpen in the meantime.

BaseballOrioles -- Purchased the contract of OF Kevin Bass from Triple-A Rochester. Optioned C Gregg Zaun, C Cesar Devarez and P Joe Borowski to Rochester; IF Matt Howard, IF T. R. Lewis and P Rick Forney to Double-A Bowie; P Larry Shenk to Single-A High Desert; OF Sean Hugo, P Toby Lehman and IF Jeff Michael to Single-A Frederick. Released IF Ken Arnold.Atlanta Braves -- OF Marquis Grissom agreed to terms on a one-year contract.California Angels -- Purchased the contract of C Andy Allanson and P Scott Sanderson from Triple-A Vancouver.

Right-handed hitter Danny Valencia has been called up from Triple-A Norfolk and will be with the Orioles at Camden Yards on Sunday, according to an industry source. The 28-year-old, who did not play for the Tides on Saturday, is batting .306 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 40 games this season. In his past 10 games, Valencia is batting .356 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs. He hit two home runs last Tuesday against Lehigh Valley.