Ryan Webb confused by roster move

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Ryan Webb walked out of manager Buck Showalter's office this morning just as confused as when he entered it.

Webb was designated for assignment today to make room for catcher Ryan Lavarnway on the 25- and 40-man rosters. The Orioles are down to 13 pitchers.

The Orioles have been trying to trade Webb, who's set to earn $2.75 million no matter where he pitches. They discussed placing him on the disabled list.

"To clear that up, I had the problem with my knee in spring training and I was cleared to play and I threw in four games after that," Webb said. "I'm 100 percent healthy, so the DL was not an option for me. I'm ready to go and start the season. Having said that, the reports, I don't know where they come from. They don't come from me, they don't come from my agent, so whatever they're trying to do right now, you've got to ask them if you can.

"I'm kind of in the dark right now, to be honest."

Webb was placed on the roster that had to be submitted to Major League Baseball yesterday at 3 p.m. and he expected to be in the bullpen today at Tropicana Field.

"I have no idea. I honest to God don't know what's going on right now," Webb said.

Asked how the move was explained to him, Webb said, "That the front office is trying to figure out what to do. I basically got called into the office and really didn't know what was going on. I was told to sit tight.

"You've got to show up ready to play. I was expecting to show up and be part of the game today, but right now I'm going to sit tight and figure out what they're trying to do."

Webb, 29, has a career 3.38 ERA in six major league seasons. He went 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 51 games with the Orioles in 2014 and registered a 6.75 ERA in 6 2/3 innings this spring.

Webb passed through waivers and confirmed that he won't accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

"That's already been taken care of," he said. "I will not accept assignment."

Another roster move is coming on Tuesday, with first baseman Chris Davis being activated from the restricted list. Catcher Steve Clevenger is expected to be optioned.

As for today's lineup, Delmon Young is the first Oriole to serve as designated hitter in consecutive openers since Harold Baines in 1993-95.