More on trade deadline and roster expansion (O's down 11-8)

The last trade deadline is less than five hours away and the Orioles haven't consummated any deals. They've been known to strike postgame, however, so don't relax.

"Some things that we've been kicking around, but nothing imminent," manager Buck Showalter said earlier today. "Tried but didn't fit, didn't work."

The Orioles seem more enthusiastic about roster expansion on Friday.

"We've had to try to work through having the Rule 5 guy (Anthony Santander) here and we've had to work through a six-man bullpen, so quite frankly I'm looking forward to getting some extra bodies here because there's been quite a few nights where you were an injury away from really being in harm's way," Showalter said.

"We've spent a lot of time trying to figure out what-ifs. Who's catching if this guy gets hurt? Who's playing shortstop if this guy gets hurt? If something goes down with Adam (Jones), where are we going? There are a lot of things you can't do because of the way we're constructed, so it's nice to get that behind us."

Showalter talks about the "trust factor," and the Orioles haven't reached it with Santander. It's just too soon and his exposure has been limited.

"We think he's going to be a good player, but you just don't know right now," Showalter said. "We have a grade on his running speed, we have a grade on his arm, but there's a lot more to it than just a grade or some analytical readout. It's the trust factor.

"Does (Welington) Castillo get back on the line drive that Caleb (Joseph) got back on yesterday? I don't know. There's so many little things."

The Orioles are aware of the importance of young players being exposed to a playoff race, but they also want anyone who's brought up in September to be ready to contribute. They also recognize the value of prospects competing in the playoffs in the minors, as Double-A Bowie is set to do in the Eastern League. Single-A Frederick is trying to clinch in the Carolina League.

"I brought Derek Jeter up just to travel with us in October and I remember him saying later, 'Heck, I thought that's what was supposed to happen every year.' And it doesn't happen every year," Showalter said, harkening back to his days as Yankees manager.

"It's cliché to say, but winning is part of development - big leagues and also in the minor leagues," Showalter said. "When we left camp every year, Mr. (George) Steinbrenner was very adamant. Us six or seven managers, you had to win and develop players and they were one in the same. And the more I look back at it, I think he was right.

"Some people say, 'Hey, we're developing players even though we're not winning.' Or, 'We're winning too much, but not developing players.' It's a combination of both of them. Anybody who says it's all high school players in the draft or all college players in the draft or all Latin players or who cares if you lose, let's just develop players, there's no one set way. Nobody's that smart. If someone's got all the answers with stuff like that, they lose me at hello.

"Some of the best development that goes on with players is the time the season ends and next spring. I'm sure Jonathan (Schoop), 'OK, this is what I thought it was going to be like, this is what it was really like.'

"We're not going to bring anybody up who we don't think can contribute. Development's nice, but there's two sides to this, too. We're going to bring up a third catcher, and that safely valve, even though he may not play a game, he affects that game because you're able to do some things twice that you normally can do only once."

Outfielder Joey Rickard will be part of the expanded roster and Showalter noted the advantages of being familiar with certain players. He also mentioned Triple-A infielder Chris Johnson and catchers Chance Sisco and Francisco Peña. The bullpen will get some much-needed reinforcements.

"There's not one of them that I can really say, 'Gosh, I saw him. I don't want to see that again.' They all bring something," Showalter said.

Attempts to pin down Showalter on an exact number of call-ups continue to fail. He knows it, but he isn't telling.

"Yes, there is," he said. "If we were still going to Boston, there would be less. No. Toronto's small, too. Tampa's not a problem."

Update: Jones hit a two-run homer off Marco Estrada in the first inning to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead.

Update II: Tim Beckham's infield hit with two outs in the second scored Chris Davis and increased the lead to 3-0.

Update III: Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer with two outs in the third to shave the lead to 3-2. Jeremy Hellickson has thrown 58 pitches.

Update IV: The Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the third to lead 5-2. Jonathan Schoop came home on Davis' ground ball to second in the teeth of the shift and Jones scored on Mark Trumbo's two-out single.

Update V: Hellickson gave up five runs in the fifth and the Orioles trail 7-5. All the runs scored with two outs, the last two on Kevin Pillar's double. Miguel Montero tied the game with a two-run double.

Update VI: Davis homered in the bottom of the fifth to reduce Toronto's lead to 7-6. No shutdown inning for Estrada.

Update VII: Morales hit a three-run homer off Mychal Givens in the sixth to give him six RBIs on the night and the Blue Jays a 10-6 lead.

Update VIII: Morales hit his third home run of the night to tie his career high, a solo shot off Givens in the eighth giving the Blue Jays an 11-6 lead. His seven RBIs are a career high.

Update IX: The Orioles scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to reduce the lead to 11-8. Beckham collected his third hit of the game. Schoop notched his 100th RBI.