Possible activity on the 40-man roster

The Orioles' 40-man roster currently is full, which is why infielder Paul Janish was designated for assignment when they claimed left-hander Jed Bradley off waivers from the Braves. But it obviously won't stay that way.

Players will be removed after they become free agents. Teams have five days after the World Series to negotiate with their own guys before the market opens for business.

The Orioles have nine pending free agents, including Steve Pearce, who was moved to the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 18. The list also includes catcher Matt Wieters, outfielders Mark Trumbo, Nolan Reimold, Michael Bourn and Drew Stubbs, pitchers Tommy Hunter and Brian Duensing, and designated hitter Pedro Alvarez.

Janish was part of the group before coming off the 40-man roster, refusing an outright assignment and electing free agency.

Here's the 40-man roster minus the pending free agents:

Pitchers
Jayson Aquino
Brad Brach
Jed Bradley
Parker Bridwell
Zach Britton
Dylan Bundy
Oliver Drake
Yovani Gallardo
Jason Garcia
Kevin Gausman
Mychal Givens
Donnie Hart
Ubaldo Jimenez
T.J. McFarland
Wade Miley
Darren O'Day
Chris Tillman
Tyler Wilson
Vance Worley
Mike Wright

Catchers
Caleb Joseph
Francisco Pena

Infielders
Chris Davis
Ryan Flaherty
J.J. Hardy
Manny Machado
Trey Mancini
Jonathan Schoop

Outfielders
Dariel Alvarez
Adam Jones
Hyun Soo Kim
Christian Walker

Left-hander Chris Lee and outfielder Joey Rickard will need to come off the 60-day disabled list and return to the 40-man roster, raising the total number of players to 34. They're in no danger of being left off it.

The Orioles will put some of their prospects on the 40-man to protect them in the Rule 5 draft. Double-A Bowie pitchers Jesus Liranzo and Jimmy Yacabonis are expected to be added.

Worley, McFarland and Flaherty are non-tender candidates, which would remove them from the 40-man. It's going to be interesting to watch how it plays out. You can make arguments for and against them, usually tied to money.

Here are a few other possible subtractions, which shouldn't be confused for predictions:

Aquino: The left-hander appeared in three games with the Orioles and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He was added to the expanded roster on Sept. 2 but pitched only twice after the Orioles contemplated sending him to Sarasota for workouts.

Bradley: The left-hander could be the latest in a long line of players acquired early in the offseason who never make it to spring training. He's holding a roster spot for now, but is vulnerable if the Orioles find another left-handed reliever along the way. Even if they don't.

Drake: The right-hander may be on more solid footing after posting a 1.59 ERA in nine September/October appearances, when he allowed two earned runs, walked only two batters in 11 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .146 average. He appeared in back-to-back games on June 28-29 in San Diego and was optioned after surrendering six runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Drake struck out 21 batters in 18 innings with the Orioles after averaging 12.60 strikeouts over nine innings at Triple-A Norfolk. He's been outrighted once and re-signed as a minor league free agent. I doubt that he's gotten real comfortable.

Alvarez: The Orioles and scouts love his plus-arm and there's been talk of converting him into a pitcher, though he's playing the outfield in Venezuela. He got only three at-bats with the Orioles this summer, none after July 25, and he turns 28 in November.

There could be an opening in right field if Trumbo leaves as a free agent, but there isn't any buzz regarding Alvarez as a candidate to occupy it.

Walker also may be vulnerable simply because he's blocked at first base and isn't considered ready to play the outfield in the majors. The Orioles didn't recall him over the summer.

Walker has posted almost duplicate seasons at Norfolk, failing to take a giant leap forward and forcing the Orioles to take another look at him.

2015: .257/.324/.423, 33 doubles, one triple, 18 home runs, 74 RBIs, 49 walks, 136 strikeouts, 137 hits, 68 runs in 138 games.

2016: .264/.321/.437, 29 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 64 RBIs, 40 walks, 138 strikeouts, 133 hits, 64 runs in 131 games.

Walker generated trade interest over the winter and again in spring training after getting off to a hot start in the Grapefruit League with a .290 average, four home runs and 14 RBIs through March 17. A 1-for-13 slump followed and the Orioles optioned him with instructions to play left field for the Tides.

They could check again on potential suitors.

Note: Left-hander Tanner Scott allowed one run over two innings yesterday for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. Same as his first start. However, he threw only 23 pitches, including 15 for strikes.

Scott threw 30 pitches in the first inning in his debut and finished with 42, including 29 for strikes.

Scott allowed three hits yesterday, walked none and struck out none. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one in his first start.

DJ Stewart contributed an RBI triple yesterday that scored Adrian Marin. Marin also had a sacrifice fly. Not a bad day for Orioles farmhands.