Orioles announce Reimold deal (updated)

The Orioles announced today that they've signed outfielder Nolan Reimold to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

The process dragged along for a while, but the deal is official.

The sides reached agreement last week after the Orioles included an opt-out clause later in the season. The Indians had the same deal on the table, though it's believed that the Orioles offered more money.

There's not much more for me to add beyond what I've written in the past. You may have it memorized.

Reimold, 31, is a career .251/.324/.439 hitter in six major league seasons since the Orioles chose him in the second round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of Bowling Green University. He batted a combined .232/.282/.435 with five doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 29 games with the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks in 2014.

The Orioles removed Reimold from the 60-day disabled list and designated him for assignment on July 1, and the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers.

Reimold is fully recovered from the corrective procedure he underwent in July 2013 to fuse two vertebrae in his neck.

Here's the quote I posted last week from vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson:

"A guy like Nolan, obviously his injury history is well-documented, but it's not a huge risk for our club. It's not a risk at all," Anderson said.

"I think people are aware of his upside. He's a talented, physical guy. The main thing he does is he has power and patience and has shown the ability to get on base even when he's struggling at the plate, which we value. I think it's a good fit for him, obviously. Being realistic, there are outfielders ahead of him, several of them. He's got to work his way back and he knows that. But we feel he's worth it.

"Buck (Showalter) wanted him back, Dan (Duquette) wanted him back, Ned Rice was an advocate of bringing him back. There's probably a comfort level for Nolan, knowing that people know him and what he can do when at his best, and being aware of specific injuries he's had and his progress coming back.

"The injury he had takes time and as it's taking time, you're losing at-bats. Then comes the inevitable spiral downward."

Duquette said the opt-out clause is "late" in the season.

"He gives us another outfielder and gives us a little bit more depth," Duquette said. "It's been a little bit of time between the surgery and he'll have a better opportunity to heal and show his ability in spring training.

"He's got good on-base capabilities, good speed and power. It's always been a question of health with Nolan. When he's healthy, he's a good contributing player. We're glad to have him back."