Orioles activate Santander and option Rickard

SEATTLE - The Orioles made the first of their two necessary roster moves tonight, activating Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander from the 60-day disabled list and optioning outfielder Joey Rickard to Triple-A Norfolk.

Santander will wear No. 25 as he makes the jump from the Single-A level last season to the majors.

Craig Gentry was the other candidate to come off the roster for Santander, but he's out of options and would have needed to clear waivers before his outright assignment. Though he cleared this summer, the Orioles feared that a playoff contender would claim him for defensive and baserunning purposes.

Rickard went 1-for-4 today with a run scored and is batting .254 with a .656 OPS. He can return on Sept. 1, if not sooner, as part of the expanded roster. His demotion is temporary.

The Orioles will miss Rickard's defense in the outfield corners, but they weren't willing to put Santander on waivers and, if he cleared, offer him back to the Indians.

Santander, 22, has been on the DL throughout the season with a strained right forearm. He went 21-for-55 (.382) with five doubles, five home runs and 14 RBIs in 16 injury rehab games.

The Orioles chose Santander in the Rule 5 draft after he batted .290/.368/.494 with 42 doubles, 20 home runs and 95 RBIs last summer in 128 games at Single-A Lynchburg.

Manager Buck Showalter will be careful to pick spots for Santander to play, unwilling to experiment while his club is vying for the second wild card.

The 40-man roster is now full.

Infielder Ryan Flaherty will come off the 60-day disabled list on Thursday and the Orioles could choose to designate infielder RubénTejada for assignment to create spots on the 25- and 40-man rosters. Flaherty and Tejada can't be optioned.