Chavez staying in organization, Hammel to throw off mound Saturday

Outfielder Endy Chavez has cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. Chavez could have opted to become a free agent, but he agreed to stay in the organization. The Orioles are expected to call him up when rosters expand on Sept. 1. Pitcher Jason Hammel is expected to rejoin the Orioles on Saturday unless he runs into some sort of travel issue. Hammel will throw off the front slope of the mound - not the pitching rubber - and will be reevaluated the following day before the Orioles map out a schedule for him. He could throw a normal bullpen session on Monday if he knee responds favorably. The minor league regular season runs out in about three weeks. Short-season Single-A Aberdeen's final game is Sept. 5 in Vermont, so Hammel could pitch for the IronBirds if he needs to continue an injury-rehab assignment. Manager Buck Showalter also indicated that Hammel could join an affiliate that's made the playoffs. Of course, the Orioles are hoping that Hammel is ready to come off the disabled list sooner than the first or second week in September. Jim Thome ran in a pool today and has been cleared to do light upper-body work. Ryan Flaherty was back at Camden Yards and said he's feeling much better. The fever is just about gone, but there's still some swelling in his neck. He won't begin a rehab assignment before Sunday. The Orioles have discussed bringing up Triple-A Norfolk outfielder LJ Hoes, but they also want him getting the steady at-bats that the Tides can provide. With four hits last night, Hoes has now reached safely in 29 of his last 51 trips to the plate. Over that 11-game stretch, he's batting .476 (20-for-42) with 12 runs and a .569 on-base percentage. Hoes, 22, is the fourth-youngest position player in the International League, and he's hit .370 (64-for-173) with a home run, 21 RBIs, 24 walks and 37 runs scored in 45 games since June 18. In that span, he leads the league in hits (64), average (.370) and runs scored (37) while ranking among the leaders in on-base percentage (second, .450) and walks (tied for eight, 24). "I wouldn't say he's put himself on the map," Showalter said. "He's continued to be on the map." Matt Wieters took a foul ball off his knuckles last night and another one just below his collarbone, but he's starting again tonight. Tough guy. For the Royals: Alex Gordon LF Alcides Escobar SS Mike Moustakas 3B Billy Butler DH Salvador Perez C Eric Hosmer 1B Jeff Francoeur RF Chris Getz 2B Jarrod Dyson CF Luke Hochevar RHP