Manager, injury and draft updates (updated)

Don't look for a new manager to take over the club when the season resumes on Friday. An announcement isn't on the horizon. Buck Showalter clearly has emerged as the leading candidate after meeting with team officials again over the weekend, but I'm told that a lot needs to get done before anything is finalized. Nothing is going to happen in the near future unless there's an abrupt change. Brian Roberts has started an injury rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Orioles, going 3-for-3 as the second baseman and leadoff hitter in the first game of a doubleheader, and Luke Scott is expected to join him shortly. Roberts is expected to DH tomorrow and will join Double-A Bowie next week. Scott is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a strained left hamstring and could begin playing for the GCL team this weekend if he doesn't have any setbacks in his running program. Michael Gonzalez will report to Aberdeen tomorrow and throw two innings if his pitch count is reasonable after the first one. The Orioles do have some interest in Mark Prior after scout Mark Ralston watched him throw at USC on June 30, but they believe that he prefers to remain on the West Coast. Not that Prior can be particularly choosy, considering that he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2006. The Orioles will keep an eye on him. The Orioles are continuing negotiations with third-round pick Dan Klein, a right-hander from UCLA. "We're not far apart at all, but there's some ground to cover," said director of scouting Joe Jordan. "I'm hoping it won't be too much longer. We're within striking distance." Nothing new to report on first-round pick Manny Machado. Jordan still says he "feels fine" about signing Machado before the Aug. 16 deadline. "The timing's just not what I wish it would be," Jordan said, "but that's the way it is." Jordan believes a few more players could sign later this week. Pitcher Luis Noel has moved up from Single-A Delmarva to Single-A Frederick.