Ford listed among minor league free agents (and note)

Outfielder Lew Ford, outrighted by the Orioles on Friday, has elected to become a minor league free agent, according to this list provided by Baseball America. The Orioles signed Ford, 35, out of the independent Atlantic League this summer and he batted .183/.256/.352 with three home runs in 25 games, his first major league action since 2007 with the Minnesota Twins. Left-hander Zach Phillips and infielder Steve Tolleson also refused their outright assignments. You can read more here and here. The Orioles have offered Tolleson a minor league contract, but he will explore free agency before making a decision. Here is the complete list, which also includes infielder Billy Rowell, the ninth-overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft: RHP: Eric Beaulac (HiA), Matt Bischoff (HiA), Greg Burke (AAA), Brandon Erbe (HiA), Robert Hinton (AA), Oscar Melendez (HiA), Kyler Newby (AA), Joel Pineiro (AAA), Oscar Villarreal (AAA), Bobby Wilkins (LoA) LHP: Zach Phillips (AAA), Rich Rundles (AAA), Pedro Viola (AAA) C: Chase Weems (SS) 1B: Rhyne Hughes (AA), Billy Rowell (SS) 2B: Travis Adair (HiA), Ryan Adams (AAA) SS: Blake Davis (AAA), Steve Tolleson (AAA) OF: Josh Barfield (AA), Scott Beerer (AAA), Lew Ford (AAA), Jamie Hoffmann (AAA), Antoan Richardson (AA) Beerer broke a hamate bone early in Triple-A Norfolk's season and experienced a setback during his rehab in Sarasota. Adams, a second-round pick in 2006, has been suspended for 25 games after he tested positive for an amphetamine in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Burke was 3-1 with a 1.53 ERA and 17 saves in 44 games at Double-A Bowie and Norfolk, and the Orioles most likely will attempt to re-sign him. Adair is the son of Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair. Note: The Orioles signed outfielder Jason Pridie to a minor league contract in late October, according to Baseball America. Pridie, 29, batted .298/.356/.455 with seven doubles, three triples, five home runs and 22 RBIs in 49 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's a left-handed hitter who batted .331/.390/.526 against right-handers. The Rays selected Pridie in the second round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. He's a career .230/.306/.378 hitter in 121 games over parts of four major league seasons with the Twins, Mets and Phillies.