SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - With a new starting pitcher signed, the Baltimore Orioles assembled for their official first full-squad workout on Wednesday.
All of the Orioles had been in camp for several days, and the only later arrivals were a handful of longshots to make the team who’d never been to camp with the team and didn’t realize that an on-time arrival is late for Baltimore.
The signing of the newest Orioles player, Ubaldo Jimenez, was announced on Wednesday.
“He brings something we’re in need of. Not very often do you get a guy at this age with some good seasons behind him and good seasons ahead of him,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s got a chance to be a quality pitcher for us for a long period of time. He’s going to give us some quality innings.”
Jimenez, Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris are the projected five starters for the Orioles.
Suk-min Yoon who worked out with the team for the first time on Wednesday, could start the season in the bullpen or for Baltimore’s Triple-A Norfolk team.
On Tuesday night, Showalter gathered the 62 players in camp to talk about the team’s goals for the coming season. Baltimore’s manager said he was eager to address them.
“It’s the first time that you’re really presenting to a lot of players that you don’t know the club and who you hope to be as a team,” Showalter said.
Besides Jimenez who’s expected to work out with the team for the first time Thursday, there are a few other new projected starters: left fielder David Lough and a new designated hitter.
The Orioles are rumored to be interested in free agents Kendrys Morales or Nelson Cruz. Delmon Young, who signed a minor league contract last month, is in camp, and could be the team’s 12th different opening day designated hitter in as many different years.
Young has played with teams that have reached the postseason the last five years.
“Offensively, defensively, pitching, this team stacks up with the teams that I’ve been to that I’ve gone to the playoffs, that have gone deep in the playoffs and teams that narrowly miss,” Young said.
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