Can Bradley avoid being left out?

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will begin their first full-squad workout this morning still unsure where they're going to find another left-hander for their bullpen.

They've got Zach Britton to close, and each day this week has brought another reporter into camp to set up at his locker. (See what I did there?) They've got rookie Donnie Hart to match up against left-handed hitters. And manager Buck Showalter indicated this week that he could bring another southpaw to Camden Yards, the preference being a long reliever.

He's still trying to figure out what he's got in Jed Bradley, one of the non-roster invitees on the roster.

Bradley, as you may recall, was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk one month after the Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Braves on Oct. 7. He was supposed to provide left-handed bullpen depth, but could he offer more?

Showalter figured that Bradley would report to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park, perhaps be summoned for a batch of Grapefruit League games to assure that the Orioles wouldn't run out of pitching. That seemed to be the plan, but it changed after Showalter discussed Bradley with executive vice president Dan Duquette.

"The more that I listened to Dan and other people, they felt like he could compete for a spot," Showalter said.

New pitching coach Roger McDowell worked with Bradley in Atlanta and offered his endorsement of the former first-round pick, who's now 26 and pitching for this third organization since the start of the 2016 season.

"Roger's very familiar with him, had him last year," Showalter said. "Good changeup, left-handed, a lot of people think he could potentially fit in some left-on-left stuff. Could start for us. Really good depth piece at the worst. But those guys have a way of emerging.

"Had a lot of people who thought we should take a look at him here in camp, so we did."

Bradley's major league resume consists of six relief appearances last summer. He allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings, walking six (two intentional) and striking out four. He was scored upon in three of the six outings.

The splits were backward for Bradley, with right-handers going 1-for-11 and left-handers going 6-for-15.

Bradley was 9-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 35 minor league games, including 13 starts, between Double-A Biloxi, Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves acquired him from the Brewers on June 2 for a player to be named or cash considerations.

The most likely scenario places Bradley at Norfolk to start the season, especially if they don't break camp with 12 pitchers, but the Orioles will keep a collective open mind.

"Obviously, you try not to look too far ahead," he said. "You want to come in, you want to have a good camp and showcase my abilities and do the best I can and remove the expectation factor from it. But yeah, I'd love to fill that spot, absolutely."

The connection to McDowell won't hurt, but he'll still need to earn a job, earn the trust of his current manager and staff.

"Anytime you can come into a camp and have somebody that previously had eyes on you, it's a huge benefit," Bradley said. "I got to work with Roger a little in Atlanta in my very brief time over there, but it's definitely a positive."

Bradley made the rounds his first day, introducing himself and shaking hands. He's comfortable in his new surroundings, a common occurrence around here.

"I think it's a phenomenal camp," he said. "So far I've just been here three days, but I've been really impressed with how Buck runs this camp and the clubhouse environment has really been incredible. Very welcoming. Can't ask for any more than that."

Well, maybe a spot in the bullpen.

Brad Brach will return to camp this morning after attending his arbitration hearing yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla. He's going to find out whether the Orioles are paying him $3.05 million or $2.525 million.

As they did with their other two pending cases, the Orioles made a final attempt to sign Brach before the hearing. They couldn't come to an agreement and the process played out.

Brach missed his hug from second baseman Jonathan Schoop, but it's coming this morning. Schoop had a warm embrace for everyone, the constant extending of his arms giving him a head start on the morning stretches.

"This is the best thing ever, coming back and seeing them, because we text back and forth," he said. "We come back and see them and come back and see family. That's the best thing. You have your family back home and this is a part of my family, too."

"Even in the offseason, we talk with each other. That's chemistry. We have really good chemistry down here and ever since I got called up, they treated me like I belong here. That's the best thing you can have."