Another look at roster competitions

SARASOTA, Fla. - With the season opener less than three weeks away, the Orioles aren't any closer to deciding on a fifth starter for their rotation. However, the slim chances of Gabriel Ynoa winning the job turned to zero with yesterday's news that his shin splints will keep him out for at least two weeks.

The in-house candidates remain Mike Wright Jr., Miguel Castro and Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. Any temptation to keep Hunter Harvey likely will be extinguished due to his failure to pitch above low Single-A Delmarva and the need for him to build up his innings. But you'd be wrong if you assumed that the subject never comes up among team officials.

Ynoa has been diagnosed with a "stress reaction," which also applies to me whenever I'm asked if the Orioles know that they need pitching. The best-case scenario has him back on a mound in two weeks, though not necessarily in a game. He's out of options and the disabled list would delay a potentially hard decision on him.

I'm just sayin' ...

Of greater interest to me, since I never considered Ynoa to be in the rotation mix, is whether Austin Hays is drifting out of the competition for a spot in the outfield. He's appeared in only three Grapefruit League games since his triple and single in the intrasquad game, and his right shoulder continues to restrict his throwing.

Hays has been limited to serving as the designated hitter and he stayed back in Sarasota yesterday while the Orioles were losing to the Blue Jays 8-5 in Dunedin. Finally, the kid caught a break. He didn't have to make that trip.

Hays is 1-for-11 and losing ground while unable to get on the field. Craig Gentry had a triple and a run scored yesterday and gives the Orioles plus defense in center and the corners. His hamstring is healed and we know he's one of manager Buck Showalter's favorites.

It isn't too late for Hays, but each day that passes without his name on the lineup card as a starter or reserve works against him.

Joey Rickard appeared in his 11th game yesterday and popped up in his only at-bat, the 24th of the spring. He has only three hits, but he's stayed healthy.

Anthony Santander is staying with the Orioles. He won't be put on waivers and he won't be offered back to the Indians. Including him on a four-man bench with the backup catcher and utility infielder leaves room for one more outfielder. At least for the first 44 days of the season. The club can decide later if Santander is a temporary or longer-term keeper.

If a decision on the extra outfielder had to come today, Gentry would seem to have the edge despite being a non-roster invitee. But it's only March 10.

I'm still wondering if the Orioles will go against their mantra and use Danny Valencia as their utility infielder while ignoring the whole "never played shortstop" thing. They just don't seem that excited about the other candidates.

Rubén Tejada brings the most experience, which someone in the organization mentioned as a potential tie-breaker, but he committed a throwing error yesterday and is batting .172. Engelb Vielma delivered a two-run triple in the ninth inning to leave his average at .111, but it's more about defense and he's regarded as having plus skills.

Luis Sardiñas went 2-for-3 yesterday and is batting .360 if average matters. I get the sense that he needs to find a higher gear in his overall approach.

An outside entry remains a good possibility as teams continue to make cuts and players exercise the opt-outs in their contracts.

Going back to the rotation, no one is making an aggressive push for the fifth spot. Everyone has ranged in their starts from bad to just OK to pretty good. But that's true of the entire starting cast except for Kevin Gausman and his nine up, nine down outing in Clearwater that included five strikeouts.

Wright pitches again on Monday against the Pirates in Bradenton, but he's going to follow Dylan Bundy to the mound. The innings are going away, as Showalter says, so it's a day to double up the starters against a non-division and non-Twins opponents. Castro and Cortes pitch Wednesday against the Yankees in Sarasota. Can't shield them all.

Showalter is sending Wright to the mound on March 17 against the Blue Jays' split squad, which probably puts Bundy in another simulated or B game.