Orioles remain in running to sign Reimold

The Orioles are continuing their attempts to sign outfielder Nolan Reimold to a minor league deal, which would return him to the organization that drafted him in 2005. The contract would include an invitation to spring training. While the Orioles would appear to be a favorable choice for Reimold, he's still searching for a major league deal and isn't in a rush to make a decision. Other teams are trying to strike the same deal with Reimold, a group that includes the White Sox, Indians and Giants, according to sources. The Orioles may be prepared to go higher in salary if he returns to the majors, where he's a career .251/.324/.439 hitter in six major league seasons. Reimold, 31, 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. He went 11-for-52 with four doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs and 22 strikeouts in 22 games with the Blue Jays, who claimed him off waivers from the Orioles, and 5-for-17 with a double, one home run, four RBIs and 10 strikeouts in seven games with the Diamondbacks. The Orioles removed Reimold from the 60-day disabled list and designated him for assignment on July 1. They were unable to find room on the roster for another right-handed hitting corner outfielder and designated hitter, and were unable to option him without passing him through waivers. The Blue Jays claimed Reimold. I've heard that Reimold is putting his body through strenuous daily workouts and is fully recovered from the neck injury that required a corrective surgery in July 2013 to fuse two vertebrae. Reimold played in only 40 games in 2013 due to a hamstring injury and the corrective procedure. He batted .313 with six doubles, five homers and 10 RBIs in 16 games in 2012 before suffering a herniated disk in his neck, an injury believed to be caused by his tumble into the seats at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is searching for right-handed and left-handed hitting outfielders/designated hitters after losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis to free agency. Signing Reimold wouldn't change his shopping list, but the club would have another option to fill those spots. Note: The Orioles remain the favorites to host the 2016 All-Star Game and are waiting for the commissioner's office to make it official. USA Today's Bob Nightengale offered the latest confirmation in a tweet earlier today. The Nationals wouldn't be a candidate before 2019, since MLB wants to alternate leagues and avoid playing the game in the same region in consecutive years.