Triple A Norfolk

JUPITER, FLA. -- Orioles officials have spent part of the spring boasting about their improved depth, which has given manager Sam Perlozzo more options and harder decisions on his roster makeup. He made a couple of those decisions yesterday, informing infielder Brandon Fahey and reliever Kurt Birkins, who played key roles for him last season, that they won't be on the Orioles' Opening Day roster. Top pitching prospect Hayden Penn was also optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, while pitchers Jon Leicester and Rob Bell were reassigned to minor league camp.

Triple-A Norfolk first baseman Travis Ishikawa, who was named the Orioles' organizational player of the month for May, has asked through his representation for an early opt-out of his contract, but it has not been granted. He can officially opt-out of his minor league deal after Saturday - and that almost certainly will happen. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter was not in Thursday's lineup for the Tides. “We had requested to their front office that if they weren't going to call him up, we'd like to    exercise the out a few days early, but they haven't granted that,” said Ishikawa's agent, Jim McDowell.

Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta , who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday to provide bullpen depth, will start Monday night against the Tigers in Detroit in place of right-hander Jason Hammel . Hammel returned to the ballpark Sunday after two days away with a stomach virus, but manager Buck Showalter said he's uncertain if Hammel will be ready to pitch in Tuesday's game. "I've been waiting just for an opportunity, and I look forward to capitalizing on that and just contributing to continue help this team win," Arrieta said Sunday after the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. "We're playing good baseball.

Danny Valencia, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before Sunday's game, contributed immediately in his first start in an Orioles uniform. In his first at-bat Sunday, Valencia opened the second inning with a double off Rays starter Matt Moore. In his third at-bat, he hit a deep fly ball that Showalter said would have been a home run at Norfolk's Harbor Park. “He had some good swings off a tough left-hander,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “It's kind of the resume he brings, so hopefully we'll see him again tomorrow and see how he does.” Valencia was hitting .306/.339/.600 in 40 games at Triple-A Norfolk, including a .356/.375/.991 stretch with seven homers, 13 runs and 17 RBIs in his last 10 games.

First baseman Travis Ishikawa, a big league veteran who was having a strong season at Triple-A Norfolk, filed his written request to exercise the “opt-out” clause in his minor league contract on Sunday morning, according to his representation. If Ishikawa is not added to the Orioles' 25-man roster in the next 48 hours - by Tuesday morning - he will be given his release and will become a free agent eligible to sign with any team. He can still be traded during the 48-hour period, and the Orioles had been pursuing potential partners as the June 15 opt-out date loomed.

HOUSTON -- Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette won't dismiss the possibility of adding players through trades and waiver claims as this season progresses, but he also believes there is help from within, potentially including Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia. “He's an option to help our major league team this year, absolutely,” Duquette said of Urrutia, who is tearing up Double-A Bowie. “He is a good on-base man. He's got a .400-plus on-base percentage. He uses the whole field and now he is starting to hit with power.” With the calendar turning to June, speculation is starting to escalate on which teams will be sellers and which will be buyers at next month's non-waiver trade deadline.

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.

In a tie game against a pitcher who had been befuddling them all game long, the Orioles used an unorthodox sequence from the bottom of their lineup to take a lead they would never relinquish in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels . Angels left-hander Jason Vargas stymied the Orioles through six innings, holding them to four hits at that point in the 1-1 ballgame. But in the seventh, consecutive infield singles from Danny Valencia, Steve Pearce and Ryan Flaherty with two outs set up right fielder Nick Markakis' two-run single to right-center field.

Right-hander Jake Arrieta spoke to the media Saturday for the first time since returning to the Orioles from Triple-A Norfolk. Arrieta, who was called up Friday to bolster a thin bullpen after the Orioles' 13-inning win on Thursday night, has struggled this year in appearances split between the Orioles and Triple-A. “I just want to have success again in the big leagues,” Arrieta said. “If that's as a starter or as a reliever, it doesn't matter to me. I just want to get back into throwing the ball well and contributing any way to this team winning ballgames.

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.