Orioles pitchers Calvin Maduro and Kris Foster cleared waivers this week, bumping them off the 40-man roster, and the club assigned them to Triple-A Ottawa.

They have 10 days to either accept the assignment or become free agents.

Maduro went 2-5 with a 5.56 ERA after being named the Orioles' No. 5 starter coming out of spring training. He underwent surgery in June to remove a fractured bone spur from his right elbow and missed the rest of the season.

The Orioles acquired Foster from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2001 trade deadline, along with starting catcher Geronimo Gil, for reliever Mike Trombley. Foster had a 100-mph fastball, making him a prime prospect, and he finished the 2001 season in the Orioles' bullpen.

NOTE: The Topps trading card company will announce its annual All-Rookie team the second week of November, and the Orioles have a good chance of having three players named: starting pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, closer Jorge Julio and Gil.