SARASOTA, Fla. - Now that he's cleared waivers and been outrighted, Trayvon Robinson is part of the Orioles' camp roster and an extremely crowded outfield.
Robinson, obtained from the Seattle Mariners in November for infielder Robert Andino, described his time on waivers as "just a week of misery, just thinking about it.
"At the end of the day, I just want to get on the field and play."
And try to make the opening day roster, which will prove to be a supreme challenge.
Besides Nate McLouth, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold, the Orioles also have Xavier Avery, LJ Hoes, Chris Dickerson, Lew Ford, Conor Jackson, Steve Pearce and Jason Pridie. That's 12 outfielders, all of them with major league experience.
"At the end of the day, I just want to play baseball," Robinson said. "It is what it is. Everything I've done, I've earned it, just got to earn my way back. It starts today."
Now that the waiver process has ended.
"I was working out on my own as a player that wants to play the game," said Robinson, who batted .221/.294/.324 in 46 games with the Mariners last season. "I'd rather have it as a done deal and be over with instead of going through that, because I was ready to get out here. I was going to go out here on the 12th, so I had to wait.
Robinson, 25, knew he would be in a spring training camp. He just wasn't sure of the location until the outright.
"I thought I was going to be somewhere else, but it's the timing, too, so I'm not really worried about it," Robinson said. "I didn't give up hope. I can still make it to the big leagues, and it starts here. It starts in spring training, I just want a long look, a long look to show what I can do at the big league level. I never really stayed in spring training long enough to even get somebody to look at me. Like last year when I was with the Mariners, I was playing good. I just got sent down.
"I want a long look. I want somebody to look at me and see that what I did in the minors, it's not a fluke. I just want to go out there and play."
Could a fresh start be beneficial to Robinson?
"Maybe," he replied. "I've got a jersey on my back, so I'm not really complaining. I really think that I was real comfortable with the Dodgers and they flip-flopped with the Mariners, and this is a new start. Each day is a new day, you know? That's all that matters."
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