In a unique position with a surplus of pitching and Chris Davis having one game remaining from last year’s 25-game suspension, the Orioles have elected to keep 14 pitchers on their 25-man roster for Opening Day.
For now, the Orioles will keep veteran Ryan Webb and Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia in a crowded bullpen for Monday’s opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. Owed a guaranteed $2.75 million this season, Webb passed through waivers late last week and cannot be sent to the minors without his consent. Executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette would like to move him, but the Orioles would not be able to expect much of anything in return as other clubs are aware of his status.
The 22-year-old Garcia is a former member of the Boston Red Sox organization and impressed this spring, posting a 0.87 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings this spring. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2013 and was converted to the bullpen last season.
He will need to remain on the 25-man roster all season in order for the Orioles to keep him in the organization.
In a bit of a surprising move, Mount Saint Joseph graduate Steve Clevenger made the 25-man roster as the backup catcher to Caleb Joseph, who will start in place of the injured Matt Wieters to begin the season. Many expected former Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway to make the club, but Clevenger was already on the 40-man roster.
Clevenger made the club to begin last season as the backup catcher, but he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk last May when the Orioles elected to go with Joseph and veteran Nick Hundley in Wieters’ absence. The Pigtown native hit .275 with three doubles and six RBIs in 40 at-bats this spring.
The Orioles announced Sunday that veteran Ubaldo Jimenez will make his first start of the season on Saturday, confirming that he has made the starting rotation. This leaves the 24-year-old Kevin Gausman in a relief role for now, which may create problems in finding him regular work or keeping him stretched out for a potential starting role later this season.
Davis will be eligible to return to the 25-man roster on Tuesday, leaving an interesting decision for Duquette. If the club is unable to make a trade to clear space, Webb could be released or Gausman might be optioned to Norfolk to create a roster spot.
The Orioles also announced Sunday that they had reassigned Lavarnway and outfielder Nolan Reimold to minor-league camp and optioned long reliever T.J. McFarland to Norfolk.
Wieters (right elbow), shortstop J.J. Hardy (left shoulder), outfielder David Lough (left hamstring), and infielder Jimmy Paredes (lower back) were officially placed on the 15-day disabled list to begin the year. The stints for the first three were backdated to March 27, making them eligible to return as early as April 11. Paredes is eligible to be activated as soon as April 16 after straining his lower back lifting weights last week.
Below is a look at where the roster stands for now:
STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Chris Tillman
LHP Wei-Yin Chen
RHP Miguel Gonzalez
RHP Bud Norris
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
RELIEF PITCHERS
RHP Kevin Gausman
RHP Jason Garcia
RHP Ryan Webb
LHP Wesley Wright
LHP Brian Matusz
RHP Brad Brach
RHP Tommy Hunter
RHP Darren O’Day
LHP Zach Britton
CATCHERS
Caleb Joseph
Steve Clevenger
INFIELDERS
Everth Cabrera
Ryan Flaherty
Manny Machado
Jonathan Schoop
OUTFIELDERS
Alejandro De Aza
Adam Jones
Steve Pearce
Travis Snider
Delmon Young
DISABLED LIST (will not count against 25-man roster)
SS J.J. Hardy (left shoulder)
OF David Lough (left hamstring)
INF Jimmy Paredes (lower back)
C Matt Wieters (right elbow)
SUSPENDED LIST (will not count against 25-man roster)
1B Chris Davis
