HOUSTON -- Executive vice president Dan Duquette said the Orioles are still working to keep left-hander Johan Santana, who can exercise an opt-out clause in his minor league deal within the next few days.
The team has until tomorrow at midnight to work something out with Santana, the two-time Cy Young award winner who hasn't pitched since 2012 and is coming off a second shoulder surgery in a three-year span.
With Santana's opt-out date looming, the Orioles wanted the 35-year-old to pitch one more game of approximately 85 pitches, in extended spring training before making his first start with an affiliate June 8 for Triple-A Norfolk at Durham.
If that went well, he would go to Double-A Bowie on June 13 for a home game against Harrisburg, with the hopes of being ready for the Orioles by June 18 or 19, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said recently.
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