Rapada designated for assignment (and Orioles lineup)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

June 29, 2011, 11:16am

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The Orioles will activate Alfredo Simon from the disabled list this afternoon and designate left-hander Clay Rapada for assignment. The club has 10 days to trade Rapada, pass him through waivers and outright him to Triple-A Norfolk or release him. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec tweeted the roster move, and a team official just confirmed it. Rapada was effective against left-handers, as advertised. They went 4-for-35 against him, with one home run, three walks and 13 strikeouts. However, right-handers were 9-for-13 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, three walks and no strikeouts. The Orioles apparently don't believe they can afford the luxury of carrying a left-handed specialist in their bullpen. They prefer the multiple innings that Simon provides, and someone who isn't as overmatched against righties. Rapada signed a minor league deal Jan. 25 and had his contract purchased by the Orioles on April 18. The 40-man roster is down to 39 players. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Blake Davis 2B Chris Jakubauskas RHP