Orioles claim Diplán off waivers

SAN DIEGO - The Orioles have expanded their involvement in the Winter Meetings beyond the Rule 5 draft that's held later this week.

In the latest move to improve their pitching depth, the Orioles claimed right-hander Marcos Diplán off waivers from the Tigers on the first day of the meetings.

The 40-man roster has increased to 38 players.

Diplán, 23, pitched at the Double-A levels in the Brewers and Twins systems this year and posted a 4.85 ERA and 1.471 WHIP with 44 walks and 73 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings. The Tigers claimed him off waivers from the Twins in September.

In six minor league seasons, Diplán has gone 31-29 with a 3.88 ERA, 1.424 WHIP, 296 walks and 549 strikeouts in 540 2/3 innings. He's never pitched above Double-A.

Diplán has a minor league option remaining, which increases his value to the Orioles. They can decide whether he's a starter or reliever, with 52 of his 140 appearances coming out of the bullpen.

The Brewers designated Diplán for assignment on July 29 and traded him to the Twins two days later in a cash transaction. MLBPipeline.com ranked him as the Brewers' No. 21 prospect, but control issues held him back.

Diplán pitched for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League and didn't allow a run in 4 2/3 innings.

* Former Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is negotiating with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, as first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, and a deal could be finalized later this week.

Jones, 34, hit the free agent market again after spending one season with the Diamondbacks and batting .260/.313/.414 with 25 doubles, 16 home runs and 67 RBIs in 137 games. He registered a minus-0.4 WAR per Baseball-Reference.com, the worst of his career.

The Diamondbacks signed Jones to a $3 million deal on March 11. The Orioles expressed no interest in keeping him.

* A huge free agent domino fell this afternoon with Stephen Strasburg agreeing to a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Nationals, according to multiple reports.

Strasburg was expected to stay in D.C. and it became official today.