Janish: "It was a mutual want in terms of staying in the organization"

Infielder Paul Janish will meet up with Triple-A Norfolk Saturday in Columbus as he tries to work his way back to the Orioles. He's currently in Houston with his family.

Janish cleared waivers and was outrighted to Norfolk on Tuesday. He accepted the assignment, though he had the right to refuse and become a free agent.

There were a couple of factors at work, including his contract and his desire to remain in an organization that worked hard to re-sign him to a minor league deal over the winter.

The contract also played a role in the Orioles' timing, removing Janish from the 25-man roster with two games remaining in Manny Machado's suspension.

"The way my contract was structured, part of the decision to outright me or designate me at the time was there was kind of a deadline where my salary for the rest of the year in the big leagues would be guaranteed, so the team would have been subject to that, so I think that obviously played a role," Janish said.

"The way my contract was structured, I've kind of got incentive financially to accept the assignment. I'm getting a pretty decent split in Triple-A with Norfolk. If I were to elect free agency and go somewhere else, I would be subject to whatever contract I could get worked out. That's incentive to help me stay here, right?"

Janish, 33, met with manager Buck Showalter before heading home.

"In the conversation I had with Buck, too, I told him at this point in my career I really don't have a whole lot of desire to go and reestablish credibility somewhere else in Triple-A. Obviously, if I was going to go somewhere else in the big leagues, that's different, but I cleared waivers, so that's probably not going to happen. So, it was a mutual want in terms of staying in the organization."

The designation didn't catch Janish by surprise. He's out of minor league options and Machado's pending return hung over his head. He played third base against left-handers and offered the same plus-defense that he displays at shortstop, but the club didn't have a spot for him.

"With Manny coming back from his suspension, I was anticipating that this could be a feasible option, for sure, but that's just part of it," Janish said. "Like I said, it really wasn't unforeseen or anything. With Manny coming back, they're back at full strength."

Janish's original deal included opt-out clauses that, he believes, are no longer in the equation.

"I don't want to misspeak, but I don't believe that there is, so we'll see how things unfold," he said.

"That was another part of the conversation with Buck, saying that in the event of another injury, even if it's in September, in all likelihood, not to guarantee anything, but I'm in a good position in order to get back to the big leagues with the Orioles. And I know that. And I know how they feel about me. All of that encompassing is part of the reason why at this point is really makes sense for me to stay with the organization. I really feel like I've got a good chance to be back with the team at some point during the course of the rest of the year."

Janish batted .194/.286/.226 in 14 games after posting a .329/.364/.356 slash line in 21 games with Norfolk. He's spent parts of the last two seasons in the organization over a major league career spanning eight years.

Janish has appeared in two playoff games, with the Reds in the 2010 National League Division Series and the Braves in the 2013 NLDS. He'd like another shot at a ring.

"That's a huge factor for somebody like me, because I need the team to feel good because I need for them to feel like their games are important," he said. "That's what I bring to the table, that kind of security blanket, so the fact that the team has obviously played well up to this point and fully expects to going forward, that's a huge aspect for me personally in terms of having the opportunity to get called up. But also, it would be kind of cool if I could find a way to play on a team that makes the playoffs and goes to the World Series or something crazy like that."

* The Orioles reached agreement with their second-round pick, Western Michigan left-hander Keegan Akin, who is expected to report to short-season Single-A Aberdeen after signing his contract.

Akin will sign for the slot bonus of $1.177 million, as first reported by SB Nation. He brings the Orioles' total of signed picks to 22.

Akin posted a 1.82 ERA in 17 starts. He walked 30 and struck out 133 in 109 innings.

* The Orioles' 27 wins at home through 40 games are the most since the 1979 team won 31, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The 1979 team went 55-24 at home, the best record in the majors, and won the American League pennant.

* Norfolk left-hander Ariel Miranda shut out Lehigh Valley today on three hits over six innings, with no walks and five strikeouts, and shortstop Ozzie Martinez hit his second grand slam of the homestand.

Martinez's last three home runs over 132 games are grand slams.

Update: The Orioles also signed their fourth-round pick, right-hander Brenan Hanifee from Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, Va.