Reimold stays hot, Showalter on Verrett

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold led off tonight's game with a single on the first pitch thrown by Braves starter Alex Wood, a broken-bat liner into center field.

Reimold is 15-for-45 (.333) this spring with two home runs, eight RBIs and eight walks. He's earned a spot on the 25-man roster, but is there room for him?

David Lough is going on the disabled list, but the Orioles seem inclined to keep Jimmy Paredes, who's out of options. Reimold signed a minor league deal and can be reassigned at the end of camp.

The Orioles need a player to take Chris Davis' roster spot on opening day, but they'd have to put Reimold on waivers before sending him down, and the club is convinced that another team would claim him. Reimold has a July opt-out clause in his contract and the club wants to hold onto him.

In a spring of difficult roster decisions, Reimold is right in the thick of it.

Wei-Yin Chen threw 19 pitches in the bottom of the first inning, including 11 to former Oriole Nick Markakis, who still knows how to work a count and the opposing starter. Markakis eventually flied to right field.

Chen retired the Braves in order in the second on eight pitches, six for strikes. He's at 27 pitches, 21 strikes through two innings.

Earlier today, the Orioles lost Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett on a waiver claim by the Rangers. They wanted to hold onto him, but the bullpen is crowded and they hoped that he'd sneak through waivers and the Mets wouldn't take him back.

More than one team claimed him and he never got to the Mets.

Manager Buck Showalter said it isn't easier to keep the other Rule 5 pick, Jason Garcia, simply because Verrett is off the roster.

"Not any easier at all. Doesn't change anything," he said.

"You've done the math, right? Usually how it works with those things is they run him through and try to work out a trade with him. It's a real testament to not only the scouting, but the work that was done with him while he was here. He wasn't on anyone's radar."

The Rangers provided a homecoming for Verrett, who attended Baylor University.

"It's a perfect situation for him because he lives in Texas," Showalter said. "His parents were just here. I guess he found out a little after 1 (today)."

Late enough that he's listed tonight as being available in the Orioles bullpen.

It appears that the Orioles have 10 candidates for seven bullpen spots, but Showalter said, "If you do the math, not really. You have to create a spot. We created one today.

"Obviously, I know a little bit more than I'm letting on. I'm sure sooner or later they will get out there. Surprised some of them haven't gotten out there."