Verrett on his return to the Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - After going through some morning stretching exercises on the first day of minicamp, Orioles pitcher Logan Verrett paired up with Jason Garcia for a game of catch on the replica Camden Yards field.

Reunited Rule 5 picks getting reacquainted.

The Orioles kept Garcia in the spring of 2015 and tried to pass Verrett through waivers, but the Rangers put in a claim. Verrett ended up back with the Mets, who traded him to the Orioles on Nov. 30 for cash considerations.

"I think I got the same locker, too," Verrett said today, looking around the clubhouse with a smile on his face. "Walking in today it was kind of, I don't know, honestly it felt like just yesterday that I was here, even though it's been two seasons. That's crazy. But it feels good.

"I've always told everybody that when I was here, I really enjoyed my time here and thought it was a first class organization. I told a lot of my teammates that I'd welcome the opportunity to come back if I ever had it, and so when I got the call, I was pretty excited."

Verrett appeared in nine Grapefruit League games with the Orioles in 2015 and posted a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings. They deemed him as more polished than Garcia due to his Triple-A experience, but they kept the more electric arm.

The Mets got little in return for a player who still holds a minor league option, a curious transaction given his 2.84 ERA in 23 relief appearances last season. He was 1-6 with a 6.45 ERA in 12 starts.

Why trade him now, and only for cash?

"That's a good question," Verrett said, another smile creasing his face. "As far as I know from the call and talking to Sandy (Alderson) and John Ricco when they called and told me I was traded, it was the Orioles had a high interest in me and have for a long time and have really wanted to get me back, so he said it was a good fit. And also they needed to open up a spot for (Yoenis) Cespedes, as well, so I think it was kind of a win-win for both sides.

"For me, I'm just excited to be back wearing the Orioles uniform again. I'm excited about that opportunity."

It's an opportunity to break camp as a swingman. The bullpen currently has two openings if Zach Britton, Darren O'Day, Brad Brach, Mychal Givens and Donnie Hart are included in it.

"I think I can help this team," said Verrett, 26, who's 4-10 with a 4.65 ERA in 53 major league games, including 16 starts. "This team has a lot of heart and that's something I noticed a couple years ago. I know it's not the exact same players, but the core group of guys are still here. They're guys who play with heart and play the game the right way. I think that's where I fit in.

"I think I can help in a couple different ways, whether it's starting or relieving. Long relief, short relief. Whatever Buck (Showalter) wants me to do, take the ball and go do it."

The Orioles removed one starter last week by trading Yovani Gallardo to the Mariners for outfielder Seth Smith.

"It certainly doesn't hurt, you know? But I don't know if that's the plan they have for me," Verrett said.

"I don't know if they're looking at me in that starting role or if they're looking at me more in that long-relief role, so it's really, whatever they want me to do, take the ball and go do it. It's kind of what I was doing with the Mets. That swingman back and forth.

"Whatever the case is, I'm going to try to do it to the best of my ability and help the team win some ballgames and get back to the postseason."

Verrett will prepare as a starter, just as he did in his previous spring training with the Orioles.

"I always kind of do every offseason, just prepare as a starter because it's easier to make that adjustment to relieving from being stretched out and thinking you're going to be starting games," Verrett said. "It's easier to make that transition to, 'OK, now I'm throwing shorter outings and less pitches.' So I'll stick with that and when I come in, just kind of see what their plan is for me."

Note: The Orioles signed right-hander Cody Satterwhite to a minor league deal. He's expected to receive an invitation to spring training, but the official list hasn't been released.

Satterwhite, who turns 30 later this month, posted a 1.80 ERA and 1.080 WHIP in 18 appearances with Triple-A Salt Lake before going to Japan. He was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 20 games with the Hanshin Tigers.

Satterwhite, a second-round pick of the Tigers in 2008 out of the University of Mississippi, is 14-11 with a 3.28 ERA in seven minor league seasons.