Reimold placed on waivers

BOSTON - The Orioles continue to conduct business today while waiting to play their next two games on Saturday. Outfielder Nolan Reimold has been placed on outright waivers after the Orioles were unable to work out a trade. Any team may sign him and assume the remainder of his $1.025 million salary. The Orioles reinstated Reimold from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday and designated him for assignment. He's out of minor league options and the club doesn't have a spot for him on the active roster with Nelson Cruz, Steve Pearce and Delmon Young in the fold. Reimold's fate should be decided by the end of the weekend. If he's claimed, he's gone. If he clears, the Orioles can outright him to Triple-A Norfolk. Since Reimold hasn't been outrighted in the past, he can't refuse an assignment and become a free agent. Team officials want to keep Reimold in the organization. However, they preferred to work out a trade rather than risk losing him to a waiver claim. Reimold, 30, was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26 following corrective surgery to fuse two vertebrae in his neck, and the Orioles transferred him to the 60-day DL on April 7. He completed a rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie last weekend. The Orioles selected Reimold in the second round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of Bowling Green University. They called him up on May 14, 2009, and he batted .279/.365/.466 with 18 doubles, two triples, 15 homers and 45 RBIs in 104 games. However, he underwent surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon on Sept. 23, which ruined his 2010 season. Reimold had 10 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 45 RBIs in 87 games in 2011, but he was limited to 56 games over the next two seasons due to hamstring and neck injuries. Reimold 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. He played in 40 games last year before undergoing a corrective procedure to fuse the vertebrae. With his neck fully healed, Reimold batted .315 with three doubles, two homers and nine RBIs in 17 games at Bowie. He's been playing the outfield without any restrictions.