Orioles outright Severino, Greene and Diplán

The Orioles did some heavy work today on their 40-man roster, including outrighting catcher Pedro Severino to Triple-A Norfolk.

Severino and relievers Conner Greene and Marcos Diplán cleared waivers and were outrighted. They can become free agents after going through a procedural process that might take a couple of days.

Left-hander Fernando Abad entered free agency this afternoon and the Pirates claimed reliever Eric Hanhold off waivers.

The moves have left the Orioles with 30 players on their 40-man roster.

Starter Matt Harvey also became a free agent, but he was on the 60-day injured list and didn't count against the 40-man.

Severino was expected to be non-tendered as an arbitration-eligible, with his salary projected to climb above $3 million. Adley Rutschman, baseball's No. 1 prospect, will debut in 2022 and handle most of the starts, leaving Severino as an expensive backup.

The Orioles selected Severino off waivers from the Nationals in March 2019 and he batted .249/.315/.397 in 257 games. He slashed .248/.308/.383 this summer in 113 games, with 18 doubles, 11 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Severino's defense drew heavy criticism. He committed 10 passed balls and there were 66 wild pitches while he set the target.

Rutschman may open next season at Triple-A, which leaves the Orioles in the market for perhaps two catchers. Nick Ciuffo is the only catcher on the 40-man, and he appeared in two games.

The Orioles could attempt to sign one catcher to a major league deal and sift through the minor league free agents.

Greene made his major league debut this season and was 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA and 1.800 WHIP in 22 games with the Orioles. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers Aug. 9, he tossed two scoreless innings and the Orioles claimed him Aug. 23.

Diplán pitched in the All-Star Futures Game before making his major league debut, appearing in 23 games and going 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.233 WHIP in 30 innings.

Diplán was the sixth pitcher in Orioles history to not allow an earned run in his first seven career appearances, and the first since Donnie Hart in 2016. He was the first to not allow a hit in his first four outings covering 6 1/3 innings.

The Orioles couldn't get Hanhold through waivers. Making his first appearance in the majors since 2018 with the Mets, he allowed eight earned runs (nine total) and 13 hits in 10 1/3 innings over 10 games.

The 10 openings on the 40-man allow the Orioles to return five players from the 60-day injured list: pitchers Keegan Akin, Hunter Harvey and Jorge López, infielder Jorge Mateo and outfielder DJ Stewart. They also are expected to protect at least four players in the Rule 5 draft.

More work must be done if they want to select two players in the Rule 5 and have room to sign free agents to major league contracts, but the offseason is young.