masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Position players are due in camp today, with the first full-squad workout held on Friday. Many of them already have reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex, but we’re still waiting on Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Mark Trumbo and new right fielder Seth Smith.
Jones’ truck arrived earlier this week.
The Orioles still have 52 players listed on their camp roster with catcher Francisco Peña clearing waivers and reliever Nate Adcock not reporting for health…

SARASOTA, Fla. – Position players are due in camp today, with the first full-squad workout held on Friday. Many of them already have reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex, but we’re still waiting on Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Mark Trumbo and new right fielder Seth Smith.

Jones’ truck arrived earlier this week.

The Orioles still have 52 players listed on their camp roster with catcher Francisco Peña clearing waivers and reliever Nate Adcock not reporting for health reasons.

Adcock, who turns 29 later this month, is recovering from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in 2015. A recent setback is preventing him from joining the Orioles as a non-roster invitee.

“From what I heard, he was throwing a couple of weeks ago. Did not feel well at all,” said manager Buck Showalter.

“I know he’s either seeing a doctor or contemplating what his next step is, so we don’t expect him here.”

Reliever Brad Brach left camp yesterday and is attending this morning’s arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla. He’s seeking $3.05 million and the Orioles countered at $2.525 million.

“I think the guys really understand that business part of it,” Showalter said. “It’s something that they and the union all approved the process and they understand it’s a way to get to the end game, you know? I look at it as, I don’t think anybody really loses in it, do they?”

zach-britton-in-white-close-Sidebar.pngShowalter is holding firm to his policy of not designating roles to his relievers beyond closer Zach Britton. He’s not going to assign specific innings to Brach, Darren O’Day and Mychal Givens.

“I see it as I have multiple pieces to pick from and whoever is rested and best served to pitch there, we’ll go with it,” Showalter said. “The same bullpen card Dom (Chiti) used last year he passed down to Alan (Mills). The order in which it goes, they’ll dictate some of it, too.

“Those things have a way of working out. They know how we’re trying to protect them.”

Showalter was challenged to decide whether his current bullpen is the best that he’s managed.

“Boy I’m real careful about … I’ve had some good ones,” he responded, never comfortable singling out one player or group.

“This would rank right up there potentially because of the depth of it and the ability for Brad and Zach and Darren and if Mychal can duplicate what he did the last month of the season. The difference is all four of them can get left- and right-handed hitters out.

“That’s what’s unusual about it. They’ve got an inning, they pitch it. You’ve got four hitters and three of them are right-handed, you don’t have to get a guy up as soon as somebody gets on base. That’s how you keep bullpens healthy.”

Showalter could carry three left-handed relievers, including someone who can work multiple innings. T.J. McFarland is an in-house candidate, though he’s coming off a rough 2016 season and is out of options.

The list of free-agent left-handed relievers, as provided by MLBTradeRumors.com, is down to 38-year-old Chris Capuano and 30-year-old Charlie Furbush. Continue to breathe normally.

In other news, the Orioles confirmed the hiring of Howie Clark as assistant hitting coach. Clark replaces Mark Quinn.

Clark, 43, served as Double-A Bowie hitting coach last year after previously serving as low Single-A Delmarva’s hitting coach in 2015. He played for the Orioles in 2002 and 2006, along with the Blue Jays in 2003-2004 and 2007 and the Twins in 2008.

Clark appeared in 21 games with the Orioles and went 17-for-60 (.283). He had a career .359 on-base percentage in 17 minor league seasons, and also happened to be one of the nicest and most energetic players I’ve encountered on this beat.

Outfielder L.J. Hoes also belongs on the nice list – few players do more for their community – which makes yesterday’s news even sadder. He’s been suspended 50 games without pay after a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

Hoes, 26, is a minor league free agent. The Washington, D.C. native batted .242/.318/.331 last season with six home runs and 33 RBIs in 102 games with Triple-A Norfolk during his second tour in the Orioles organization.

Hoes and minor league left-hander Josh Hader were traded to the Astros on July 31, 2013 for pitcher Bud Norris. The Orioles purchased his contract two years later, but he didn’t make it back to the majors.