Araujo makes Orioles roster (and other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 reliever Pedro Araujo will head north with the Orioles and be part of their bullpen on opening day, news that came to him earlier today via bullpen mates Darren O'Day, Mychal Givens and Brad Brach.

The smile on his face looks like it might have a shelf life of six months.

Araujo allowed two runs and four hits in 8 2/3 innings, with only the Blue Jays scoring off him in a March 9 game. He walked two batters, struck out eight and kept gaining the organization's trust with his results and his demeanor.

"Very surprised, very surprised about the news, even though I felt confident that maybe I would be able to make the team. But very surprised for sure," said Araujo, selected from the Cubs organization in the Rule 5, via translator Ramón Alarcón.

"I was very surprised when I opened the door and I see these guys over here, O'Day and Givens. I'm like, 'OK, what did I do wrong here?' Something that I did wrong. But they told me right away, O'Day, 'Do you remember the PFP?' I said, 'What PFP? What are you talking about?' And then afterwards he told me, 'You made the team, congratulations,' so I was very happy."

It's an impressive jump for Araujo, 24, who made 44 of his 45 appearance last year at high Single-A Myrtle Beach. He was 6-1 with a 1.81 ERA and 0.91 WHIP and struck out 83 batters in 64 2/3 innings.

"After last year, I was not really expecting to make a big jump to the big leagues, but I was very surprised, very fortunate," he said. "I had a lot of bumps along the way. It's been a long (trek) for me. I had to spend a lot of time, hard work, dedication, but I'm happy to be here."

Araujo didn't seem to garner as much attention as fellow Rule 5 pitchers Nestor Cortes Jr. and José Mesa Jr. Cortes remains in camp and could join Araujo in the bullpen as a long reliever.

"I saw my teammates, those two that are in the same situation that I was, Rule 5," Araujo said. "They're more veteran than me. They have more experience than me. Maybe they've been pitching a little bit longer. Maybe it was an advantage, but I felt confident that I could compete, that I could make the team and that I could beat them, so I'm really happy that I'm here."

In explaining his decision, manager Buck Showalter pointed to Araujo's "body of work."

"We start watching sides," he said. "You watch a lot of scouting reports, film, talking to a lot of people who have been around him. Then you come in here and he does real well in the drills other than throwing the baseball and that got our attention.

"Good aptitude, tough kid. He's very coachable and then he takes the mound and starts throwing the ball in games and carries it all over. Changeup. That's a weapon for him. I don't know what else he'd have to do for us to say, 'OK, let's find out if what we think he could be could happen.' He's a guy that can pop for us."

Dylan Bundy held the Red Sox to one run and struck out six batters over five innings in a 6-1 win that improved the Orioles' record to 16-11-1. He threw 68 pitches, 48 for strikes.

"Dylan was good," Showalter said. "We're going to shorten those guys up their last outing. But that was good. He's ready to go. Being asked about starting opening day didn't seem to bother him too much. That was his best fastball this spring, I thought. Usually you see veteran guys kind of dial it up toward the end. Dylan presents that veteran look sometimes."

Alex Cobb will throw a three-inning simulated game on Sunday in Sarasota.

"Roger (McDowell) will stay back with him instead of going over to Clearwater," Showalter said. "That will start about 1 p.m. We're going to try to simulate the whole day with him, too, not try to do it too early. I think it's good for him to get up and do his normal routine for a spring training game.

"That will be three innings, so you can kind of go from there. It's a matter of whether we want to get that six-inning outing under our belt or not."

The Orioles won't make any more cuts this afternoon after optioning catcher Andrew Susac and infielder Engelb Vielma earlier today.

Chance Sisco beat out Susac for the backup job.

"It was tough," Showalter said. "The good thing is we feel comfortable, including Audry (Perez), with any of those guys coming up and doing that, but decided to start the year this way knowing that it's a very taxing position and we're going to need them all. I hope not. Wouldn't you like to break camp and not make a move all year?

"It's a good addition for us, provides good depth. I feel comfortable either way. Just felt like Chance played well enough and some things we're going to need there. It's his time to kind of break in."

The Orioles could have given Sisco more at-bats in the International League. He just turned 23 last month. But they want to challenge him at this level and are willing to remain patient while he works on improving his throwing.

"It's a body of work," Showalter said. "He's a good receiver, smart, much like Susac, and both of them are offensive threats. Andrew's got a track record, too. He's been challenged some staying on the field and he's been good here other than that infection he had earlier, so I think once we get our arms around where he is ... It's just a short look, all things considered, but I want him to get some reps and catch nine innings and have a better feel if what we're seeing here is reality.

"He's 28 years old. A lot of guys in that age start getting into a real feel for who they are and what they can bring. Same way with Austin (Wynns), same way with Audry. I feel good about that."

Sisco provides a needed left-handed bat, but Showalter doesn't expect him to serve much as the designated hitter.

"I'd rather not, but there may come a time depending on what our roster looks like when he break as far as a third catcher," he said. "If we feel comfortable that we have a qualified third catcher, then I'd be more inclined to do that."

How many starts Sisco gets per week will be determined, but he won't gather dust on the bench. Asked if he envisions Sisco playing more than the traditional backup, Showalter said, "I hope so."

"That's going to be up to him," Showalter said. "He'll control it depending on how he does, but we are challenged for left-handed bats right now. Having him there, you get certain guys that are really big splits, you'd be more inclined ... But we're not going to take him unless we feel comfortable with him catching and having all our pitches throw to him. That part of it has been good and it's time for him to learn the league more than he has.

"Fortunately, he's been up here. It's not like this is new to him. I know it was exciting for John (Russell) to tell him that.

"We think he's got a chance to be an everyday guy and that will evolve in itself just be normal attrition. It's one thing at a time. You all know from the past that we're not going to let guys sit around here for a long period of time. We're going to play them. He's not going to sit around. Makes Caleb (Joseph) better, too."

The Orioles are getting closer to deciding on a utility infielder with Vielma's departure.

"We know if we broke today what we'd do, but there's some bridges to cross first before we fully commit there."

Left-hander Josh Edgin retired the side in order in the ninth and has allowed one run and two hits in seven innings over seven appearances. He's making a strong bid to join Araujo in the bullpen.

"That's why he's still in this camp and that's why he's still being considered," Showalter said.

The Orioles will keep at least two left-handed relievers. Cortes and Joely Rodriguez also in the mix.