Orioles release Clay Rapada

Pitcher Clay Rapada, who was designated for assignment by the Orioles on Feb. 6 after the Jeremy Guthrie trade, has cleared waivers and been released by the club tonight, according to the pitcher himself. In a move that seemed pretty classy to me, the pitcher confirmed a CBSsports.com transactions page report via Twitter that he has been released. The 31-year-old lefty, who was signed by the Orioles last winter as a minor league free agent, went 2-0 with an ERA of 6.06 for the Orioles in 32 games last season. He had two stints with the club and held left-handed batters to a .104 batting average (5-for-48), which was the second best mark in the majors for any pitcher facing at least 50 hitters. Rapada leads the majors in batting average against left-handed batters since the start of the 2010 season at .090. The Orioles apparently felt they could not keep a lefty specialist with a starting staff not set and with a bullpen crowded at the moment with late-inning relief candidates. Rapada, who has also pitched for the Cubs, Tigers and Rangers, went 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA last year for the Orioles' Triple-A Norfolk team. Rapada also wrote via Twitter tonight that he has plenty of offers right now and he is trying to find the right fit for his lefty specialist talents.