O's sign Jamie Moyer to minor league deal (Ryan Ripken statement)

BOSTON - The Orioles added to their ever-growing veteran pitching depth today, signing 49-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer to a minor league deal. Moyer has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk and is scheduled to start for the Tides Saturday in Buffalo. Moyer began the season with the Colorado Rockies and went 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts before being designated for assignment. In 25 major league seasons, he's 269-209 with a 4.25 ERA and at least nine lives. This will be Moyer's second tour of duty in the Orioles' organization. He pitched for them from 1993-95, going 25-22 with a 4.41 ERA in 75 games (66 starts). Manager Buck Showalter said Moyer will get two or three starts with the Tides while the Orioles evaluate him. In other news, reliever Matt Lindstrom still isn't throwing off a mound at extended spring training, though he's increased the distance of his flat-ground throws. And Nolan Reimold hasn't been cleared to begin baseball-related activities. The pain is gone in his left shoulder and arm, but there's still one tingling spot, for lack of a better term. The Orioles drafted Kenyon (Ohio) College catcher Jack Graham, nephew of Orioles coordinator of minor league instruction and former coach Brian Graham, in the 38th round. Here's a statement from Ryan Ripken, drafted by the Orioles today in the 20th round: "I am excited and honored to have been drafted by the Orioles. As everyone knows, the Orioles are tied so closely to my family through my grandfather, uncle and my dad. They have been my team for as long as I can remember so that makes this moment that much more special. Right now I am enjoying the moment with my mom, dad and sister as I prepare to graduate from Gilman this weekend." In my next entry, I'll post quotes from Showalter's pregame session with the media.