masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFORT MYERS, Fla. – Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar underwent an MRI on his left knee yesterday and has been diagnosed with patella tendinitis.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette, in a text message, indicated that it’s a “possible DL” situation for Almanzar.

The Orioles can’t option Almanzar without placing him on waivers and offering him back to the Red Sox. The injury, which occurred while he played first base Saturday in Port Charlotte, could provide the Orioles with additional time to…FORT MYERS, Fla. – Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar underwent an MRI on his left knee yesterday and has been diagnosed with patella tendinitis.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette, in a text message, indicated that it’s a “possible DL” situation for Almanzar.

The Orioles can’t option Almanzar without placing him on waivers and offering him back to the Red Sox. The injury, which occurred while he played first base Saturday in Port Charlotte, could provide the Orioles with additional time to figure out how to keep him.

Meanwhile, Steve Clevenger insisted this morning that he wouldn’t relax simply because he’s going to be part of the 25-man roster on opening day.

As if to provide an example, Clevenger is 2-for-2 with a run scored against the Twins, who are holding a 3-1 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth.

Clevenger has singled twice, making him 14-for-30 this spring.

Earlier today, manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Clevenger had made the team. We already heard from the agent (via Twitter) and the player.

“I don’t know if he’s looked around yet,” Showalter said, “but there’s no other catcher in camp.”

Ryan Flaherty will be on the opening day roster for the third straight season.

“I told him today so he’d quit walking around on egg shells,” Showalter said.

“Those two fall under the ‘no (kidding)’ category, right?”

Pretty much. The Orioles were checking on available catchers outside the organization, leaving Clevenger’s status in doubt.

Bud Norris allowed two runs in the second, only one earned, after Alexi Casilla’s error at shortstop. Trevor Plouffe had an RBI double and Oswaldo Arcia added a run-scoring single.

Aaron Hicks walked, but former Oriole Pedro Florimon grounded into a double play.

Brian Dozier reached on an infield hit in the fifth and scored on a two-out bloop single by Joe Mauer.

Norris has allowed six hits in five innings, including Mauer’s soft single, a bloop double down the left field line and a bloop single over the head of retreating first baseman Steve Pearce. He’s thrown 74 pitches, 48 for strikes.

Pearce’s sacrifice fly scored Clevenger in the fifth.

Update: Left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

Norris is done after allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk, while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings. He threw 78 pitches, 52 for strikes, permitting three bloop hits and an infield single.