Orioles option Cabral (minor leaguer Encarnacion suspended)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

June 09, 2015, 1:58pm

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The Orioles optioned left-handed reliever Cesar Cabral to Triple-A Norfolk to create space for outfielder Nolan Reimold on the active roster.

The decision leaves the Orioles with a six-man bullpen, a risk with the Red Sox in town and the Yankees coming in behind them. However, they have a full bench and can bring up another reliever if needed.

Cabral, 26, made two scoreless appearances over one inning after having his contract selected from Norfolk on June 5.

The Orioles are going with two left-handed relievers in closer Zach Britton and T.J. McFarland, who can serve as a long man.

Reimold, 31, batted .286/.351/.389 (50-175) with 12 doubles, two home runs, 13 RBIs and 22 runs scored over 46 games with the Tides this season. Over his last 14 games since May 22, he led the International League in batting average (.422) and on-base percentage (.469) and posted six multi-hit games.

Originally selected by the Orioles in the second round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of Bowling Green, Reimold has batted .251/.324/.439 (252-1005) with 44 home runs and 139 RBIs over 315 career major league games. He's wearing his familiar No. 14.

Note: The commissioner's office announced today that Orioles minor league right-hander Virgilio Encarnacion has received a 72-game suspension without pay after testing positive for a metabolite of Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

The suspension of Encarnacion, who's on the club's Dominican Summer League team, is effective immediately.