Orioles release McFarland (plus game update)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland has cleared outright and release waivers and is a free agent after the Orioles released him this afternoon. He can sign with any team.

The Orioles would like to re-sign McFarland to a minor league deal and start him at Triple-A Norfolk.

McFarland would have made $685,000 after avoiding arbitration. The Orioles designated him for assignment last Sunday after trading for Vidal Nuño and got him through release waivers in order to negotiate a new contract.

With McFarland out of options, the Orioles were seeking more flexibility in their bullpen and traded for left-handers Nuno and Richard Bleier. Jed Bradley also is in camp as a non-roster invitee.

McFarland spent time on the disabled list last summer with a knee injury and was 2-2 with a 6.93 ERA and 1.743 WHIP in 16 relief appearances over 24 2/3 innings. He was a non-tender candidate approaching the winter.

The former Rule 5 pick is 12-7 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.548 WHIP in 121 games (two starts) over parts of four seasons.

The Orioles lead the Pirates 2-1 in the top of the third inning after Hyun Soo Kim's two-out, tie-breaking single in the bottom of the second.

Wade Miley allowed a two-out double to Andrew McCutchen in the first inning and a two-out home run to Eric Wood in the second. He hit Austin Meadows with a pitch before retiring Alen Hanson on a ground ball to end his day.

Miley struck out one batter. He threw 27 pitches, 19 for strikes.

Logan Verrett will work the third inning.

Adam Jones hit a long home run to left field on the first pitch he saw from Pirates starter Jameson Taillon. Chris Davis walked with two outs and was stranded.

Jonathan Schoop doubled with one out in the second, Ryan Flaherty walked with two outs and Kim looped a single into left field. Kim was hitless in his first 23 at-bats last spring.