More roster talk as Orioles near end of camp

SARASOTA, Fla. - Six more days until the Orioles begin their 2017 season against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Not that anyone is counting here.

Asked yesterday what it's like for the players in the final days of camp, Orioles manager Buck Showalter replied, "I know what it's like for coaches and managers."

It's making the final roster cuts and trying not to expand the injury list. The paranoia is understandable.

"You just want everybody to get out of here healthy," Showalter said. "I can give you 20 times that the last day or so something happens. But what do you do, not play the games?"

They're played in the Grapefruit League and at the minor league camp. They're manipulated to enhance the process of getting players ready. There's just more of them than necessary.

"There are some things we need to finish off where Seth (Smith) is concerned," Showalter said. "I hit J.J. (Hardy) higher up in the order so he could get his at-bats earlier and not have to stay out there. It's getting warm.

"Our guys are ready. We could have broke camp, with a few exceptions, a day or two ago. Maybe a week ago. It's just the pitching. Spring training's about the pitching this time of the year."

It's lining up with Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy handling the first two regular season games and left-hander Wade Miley a possibility for the third if he's fine after today's start against the Braves in Lake Buena Vista - because calling it "Orlando" would be too easy.

Two bullpen spots are open and Showalter said there are "about" four candidates. All of them are multiple-inning types. One right-hander and one left-hander are desired.

Tyler Wilson and Logan Verrett are two right-handed candidates, with Vidal Nuño and perhaps Jayson Aquino from the left side. Showalter clearly has softened a bit on his preference to keep starting candidates in a rotation.

Wilson would seem to be ahead of Verrett if it comes down to them.

Trey Mancini had three more hits yesterday, including a two-run double, and is batting .357/.410/.643 with seven doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 27 games. Aneury Tavárez is batting .292/.370/.396 with two doubles, a home run, five RBIs and seven stolen bases in 27 games.

Does the fifth bench spot come down to them?

Fans make arguments on both sides as I update the stats. Tavárez offers a lot more speed and can move around the outfield, increasing his value to the team, though he's still somewhat raw defensively and that works against him on this team. And the Orioles have to pass him through waivers and offer him back to the Red Sox before they can option him.

For all we know, executive vice president Dan Duquette could make a waiver claim of his own or work out a trade and bring in someone else.

Mancini understandably is a work in progress in right field, but he isn't embarrassing himself. He doesn't seem to be lost out there.

Pedro Álvarez, meanwhile, figures to continue his outfield education at Triple-A Norfolk. He's also getting an incomplete grade for his limited exposure.

"I have not seen enough of him," Showalter said. "Nobody's that smart. It will be a process before he and we feel comfortable there. It's an option he's working hard to make for us. Much like Mancini."

Here are the 38 remaining players in camp:

Pitchers (17)
Jayson Aquino
Brad Brach
Zach Britton
Dylan Bundy
Oliver Drake
Kevin Gausman
Mychal Givens
Donnie Hart
Ubaldo Jiménez
Wade Miley
Vidal Nuño
Darren O'Day
Chris Tillman
Logan Verrett
Tyler Wilson
Mike Wright
Gabriel Ynoa

Catchers (2)
Welington Castillo
Caleb Joseph

Infielders (9)
Robert Andino
Chris Davis
Ryan Flaherty
Johnny Giavotella
J.J. Hardy
Paul Janish
Manny Machado
Trey Mancini (also an outfielder)
Jonathan Schoop

Outfielders (10)
Pedro Álvarez (also an infielder)
Chris Dickerson
Craig Gentry
Adam Jones
Hyun Soo Kim
Joey Rickard
Anthony Santander (we're told he plays the outfield)
Seth Smith
Aneury Tavárez
Mark Trumbo