Two O's hurlers leave winter ball, Minor likely back at Delmarva

Two pitchers from the Orioles minor leagues have left their winter ball teams. Pedro Beato is no longer pitching with Licey in the Dominican and Raul Rivero has left the Lara club in Venezuela. Beato, the O's second pick in the 2006 draft, the 32nd overall, pitched in just two games in the Dominican and gave up three runs and two hits over 1 2/3 innings. Beato ended the year on Bowie's disabled list with right shoulder tendonitis, but was healthy enough to pitch in the Dominican and possibly would have returned for the Eastern League playoffs had Bowie made it. The 24-year-old righty had an excellent season with the Baysox. Working in relief, he went 4-0, 2.11 with 16 saves and a .225 average against. His departure from winter ball was apparently more to do with the team's decision just to use other pitchers ahead of him rather than any health issue. Still, there are some concerns about his shoulder tendonitis, which has been an issue for him at times since he first pitched at Aberdeen in 2006. Rivero, a hard-throwing, 24-year-old righty, was 0-2, 10.57 in 7 2/3 innings with Lara, but has now been shut down until January due to medial right elbow soreness. Rivero, signed by the Birds back in 2003, was re-signed by the club after this season to a 2011 contract. He went 3-1, 3.27 this year at Frederick and 1-2, 2.66 at Bowie. Some feel he is a candidate to be taken in the Rule 5 draft. In other minor league news, Ryan Minor is expected to return as manager of the Delmarva Shorebirds. Last season was Minor's first as a minor league skipper, he lives in the area and the O's liked the job he did in 2009. Orlando Gomez may return as Frederick manager, although that is not 100 percent set yet. The O's minor league staffs should be announced over the next few days. Earlier, the club announced that Gary Allenson will manage at Norfolk and earlier Roch reported that Gary Kendall is expected to be named manager at Double-A Bowie. Winter Meetings coverage: FYI, Roch, Jen Royle and yours truly will be in Orlando to cover the Winter Meetings. Andy MacPhail will speak with Baltimore reporters there tomorrow night and each day during the meetings. Look for extensive coverage here over the next week with blogs, tweets (yes I am on twitter now), videos, reader's comments and more. You could wear out your fingers hitting the refresh button. If nothing else it should be interesting and keep us all rather busy for several days. I should also mention for Nats fans that MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling will also be at the winter meetings providing updates on the Nationals.