Showalter on roster additions, O'Day's departure and more

NEW YORK - Infielder Jonathan Villar, acquired from the Brewers yesterday in the Jonathan Schoop trade, is joining the Orioles on Thursday in Texas.

Villar has been on the disabled list since July 15 with a thumb injury.

Manager Buck Showalter hasn't crafted a set plan for how he's using Villar, who can play second base, shortstop and third base.

"I'm going to look at it on the travel down," Showalter said. "Dan (Duquette) said we'd talk today. I'm sure we'll talk some about that.

"I've seen the history of him just like you all have. I've talked to a couple people who have had him. He's capable of playing a lot of places."

Breyvic Valera, obtained from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade, makes his Orioles debut today at second base.

"I've heard good stuff about him," Showalter said. "We've always liked him as an organization, and to be able to acquire him. I'm not going to make any big evaluations on one game today, but I'll let him get out there and get a feel for him."

Showalter is giving Mark Trumbo the day off, citing the recent workload and the veteran's struggles against Sonny Gray. Trumbo is 1-for-14 lifetime.

Donnie Hart was added to a bullpen that's been missing veteran Darren O'Day following his hamstring surgery and now his trade to the Braves. Showalter hasn't been able to reach O'Day, who didn't make the trip to New York.

"We've been playing phone tag," Showalter said. "Trying to talk to him. It's hard.

"This is no knock on a pitcher, but because you don't play every day, it's kind of tough to have ... But I always try to take somebody from each part of our team - a pitcher, an outfielder, make sure you have a guy who speaks Spanish, so there's all parts of your club. But Darren was that rarity. He was almost like an everyday player. He was a baseball player who happened to be a pitcher and anytime a player or anybody needed to go get a voice on what was really going on, Darren was a sense of reality. And on top of it, he was a really, really good pitcher.

"He's going to be a really good pitcher for Atlanta next year. Good move on their part. But we got people back for him. He's good people and we're going to miss him, but we've got other people who hopefully come in and assume those mantles as we go forward."

O'Day's insistence on taking the ball in the 2012 playoffs with minimal rest will be fondly remembered by people in the organization.

"Darren, he knew how much care I tried to take of him," Showalter said. "Every once in a while he'd say, 'You know, we're not as brittle as you may think sometimes. We're here to win games.' That mentality that he gave guys down there. We're here to pitch and it really was a fraternity that Darren brought people into in our bullpen and I think Darren played a big part in the mentality of guys down there.

"I thought he was great for Zach (Britton) and (Brad) Brach. He really took these guys to another level in a lot of ways."

With so many veterans peeled off the roster, does Showalter worry which players will serve as mentors and leaders to the younger newcomers?

"There's a period where you kind of let it settle in," Showalter said. "Every player is different and you just keep your eyes open and your ears listening and get a feel for what's going on. When we get to Texas and we kind of get out of this reality world here, I think we'll probably sit down as a team. But the problem with it is you're not sure if it's settled yet. After I talked to Dan, I kind of understand what some of the moves, what we may do and how it affects us in August and September.

"I just want to do the right things for the organization in the next two months to make sure that we get a look at the things we need to look at to make good decisions."

Prospects could be summoned from the minors at any time.

"Until I talk to Dan ... we've talked back and forth for a month about some of it," Showalter said. "It's not like they're sitting around at home. They're playing and getting better and developing. There's a lot of different things to think about. My focus right now is on the 25 we've got here and whether we think it's time to take a look at somebody else. I'll have a better feel after Dan and I talk today and tomorrow."