Pregame comments from Showalter

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he doesn't anticipate any cuts today. The roster remains at 45 players.

"I haven't talked to Dan (Duquette) yet," Showalter said. "Unless he has an idea he wants to do, I don't think so. I'm done for a while. That's a tough day the last two days."

Reliever Ryan Webb, who was bothered by swelling in his left knee, will throw one more bullpen session "and then get back in the mix, so that'll be good," Showalter said.

Jason Garcia threw a live bullpen session today. He hasn't pitched since March 10 due to a sore hamstring that the Rule 5 pick said didn't even rate as Grade 1.

"What's below that, Grade 0?" Showalter asked. "Yeah, he's ready to get back in the mix. Hopefully, he comes through that well. They're going to put him through some paces - getting off the mound, fielding, covering first. I think he's ready to go."

The big news of the day, of course, involves Matt Wieters moving behind the plate in a Grapefruit League game.

"Catching today. That's exciting," Showalter said.

Wieters underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on June 17, exactly nine months ago. Showalter is eager to see Wieters make that first throw on a stolen base attempt, which was prohibited while he caught in intrasquad and B games and the exhibition against the Puerto Rico Development Program.

"Oh, yeah, of course," Showalter said. "I was kidding with him. I said, 'Hey, a guy gets on first, what if we just put like a pitchout-pickoff on to start with to kind of lead into it?' And he said, 'No, I want him to go.' I said, 'Oh, really? OK, that's good.'

"We were going over the lineup and it's the first time Richie (Bancells) has been able to put the green light on him. It's always been red. In the meeting, he's going down everything, 'Wieters full-go available today,' and I said, 'Stop, Richie, say it again.' He says, 'Wieters full-go available.' I said, 'OK. Richie, say that again.' He did it about three times. As we get about five minutes into the rest of it, John Russell said, 'Wait a minute. Richie, do that again, will you?'

"It's a lot of roads. It's another road today he's got to cross. It's been a long process for him. I'm sure there's been some times ... It was a tough decision for him last year. It was something that was inevitably going to have to happen and I think he made the right move. It was tough on him watching last year."

Showalter will only learn so much about Wieters' recovery today.

"As interested as I am in seeing how today goes, how does it feel tomorrow?" Showalter said. "There's so many things he's doing for the first time today that he hasn't done. We can simulate as much as we want to, but I want to know how he feels tomorrow when he comes in.

"I know the guys are having a little golf thing on the off-day (Monday), a little competition, and Matt said, 'I'd love to play, but I'm not taking any chances.' You can tell there's still some unknown. How's he going to respond? Is he going to be able to catch six days out of seven with one day game? I don't know. We'll see. I'm hoping to come out of it here with an idea. I'm hoping he'll have some back-to-back days here before we leave.

"I think I'll get more feedback tomorrow than I will today. That's my sneaking suspicion."

Wieters won't travel to Fort Myers for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

"He ain't going to Fort Myers," Showalter said. "He could DH, but he's got plenty of at-bats right now. Let's get through today before we start talking about back-to-back."

Showalter said he isn't leaning toward carrying a third catcher on opening day despite the lingering doubts about Wieters.

"Not yet. At this point, I'm hoping I don't," Showalter said.

While addressing that question, Showalter brought up players who are out of options and the possibility of carrying one on April 6 while Chris Davis serves the last game of his suspension.

"If you look at our roster and some of the guys out of options and stuff, some of them are a one-day thing with Chris (Davis), but there's also a little bit of an advantage if you're going to run somebody through waivers the day after everybody sets their 25-man roster," Showalter said. "I'm hoping we're able to figure out a way that fits for us where we don't lose anybody."

Could he be referencing Jimmy Paredes?

Showalter also said the Orioles are leaning toward putting Steve Johnson in Triple-A Norfolk's bullpen rather than its rotation, "but I wouldn't say they're totally committed there."

Showalter said he exchanged text messages this morning with left-hander Mark Hendrickson, who was released yesterday.

"I knew there's going to be some things he's going to want to talk about, so I'll probably talk to him in the next day or so," Showalter said. "He wants to come by and talk to some of the players, I know."

Showalter also mentioned how Everth Cabrera looked "a lot more relaxed" yesterday in Clearwater.

"He looked good in center field," Showalter added.