Rodriguez and Edgin reassigned to minor league camp

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles made two more roster cuts before today's game against the Phillies while providing clarity to their rotation and bullpen

Left-handed relievers Joely Rodriguez and Josh Edgin were reassigned to minor league camp despite outstanding work in spring training, which appears to signal that Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. has made the team.

Cortes is starting today, but he seems ticketed for a long relief role behind five right-handed starters. Mike Wright Jr. and Miguel Castro also are vying for the last starting spot before Alex Cobb, who throws a simulated game today in Sarasota, is ready to join the team next month.

The camp roster is down to 32 players, but the total includes Cobb, Zach Britton, Gabriel Ynoa and Mark Trumbo. It's more like 28 and the opening day roster doesn't have to be submitted until noon Thursday.

It shouldn't take that long.

The Orioles signed Rodriguez and Edgin to minor league contracts in November and they did everything possible to head north. Keeping Rule 5 picks Cortes and Pedro Araujo, and the possible return of Castro to his relief role rather than optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk, didn't provide the necessary room.

Rodriguez has an opt-out in his contract later if another team puts him on its 25-man roster. He certainly deserved a spot with the Orioles after allowing one run in 10 1/3 innings and providing a mid-90s fastball and heavy slider that they coveted.

The inability to consistently throw strikes haunted Rodriguez last summer with the Phillies and at the Triple-A level, but he issued only one walk this spring.

Edgin, who left camp briefly for the birth of his third child, allowed one run and two hits over seven innings. Opponents batted .091 against him. And he's had past success with the Mets, so he didn't come out of nowhere. The Orioles can reference his track record.

Outfielder Cedric Mullins, who's starting in center field today, will be one of the remaining cuts. Do the Orioles hold onto Luis Sardiñas until determining whether Tim Beckham can avoid the disabled list? Does it matter?

Pedro Álvarez and Alex Presley remain on the roster, as well. Stay tuned.

For the Phillies
César Hernández 2B
Carlos Santana 1B
Odúbel Herrera CF
Rhys Hoskins LF
Aaron Altherr RF
Maikel Franco 3B
Jorge Alfaro C
Pedro Florimón DH
Roman Quinn SS

Nick Pivetta RHP