LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Orioles manager Buck Showalter met with the local media before Saturday's game, but cut it short because he wanted to chat with executive vice president Dan Duquette.
Duquette is still exploring trade options, though it appears any move or moves would result in a lessening of the club's roster crunch more than improving the 25-man roster.
Showalter said it is possible more cuts could be announced after the game today but that all depends on if trades are made.
At this point, the roster seems to be pretty set –- primarily because the club will be putting four players on the 15-day disabled list: Matt Wieters, David Lough, J.J. Hardy and Jimmy Paredes.
The sense is that Nolan Reimold, who hit .340 in the spring but is on a minor league contract, will not make the club since he likely would only be up for a few days (when Chris Davis returns on Tuesday or Lough returns within the next week or so). Reimold would then have to clear waivers to go back to Norfolk. If he is reassigned now, he can go to the minors without clearing waivers.
Davis' situation presents the Orioles with an odd dilemma: He has one more game on his suspension to serve, so he cannot be on the 25-man roster Monday, but will be activated Tuesday from the restricted list.
So an Oriole, likely one with minor league options remaining, will be on the roster for one day: It's likely to be either Steve Clevenger or T.J. McFarland.
Barring a trade, here's the expected roster:
Pitchers (13): Tillman, Chen, Gonzalez, Norris, Jimenez, Gausman, Britton, Hunter, O'Day, Brach, Matusz, Wright, Garcia.
Position players (11): Joseph, Lavarnway, Pearce, Schoop, Flaherty, Cabrera, Machado, De Aza, Snider, Young, Jones.
One-day on 25-man (1): Clevenger or McFarland.
Restricted (1): Davis
Disabled list: (4): Hardy, Lough, Paredes, Wieters.