masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles cleared another spot on their 40-man roster this afternoon by outrighting reliever Evan Meek to Triple-A Norfolk.

Meek, who signed a minor league deal with the Orioles in February following a tryout at Camden Yards during FanFest, cleared waivers before coming off the roster. He can refuse the assignment and become a free agent.

Meek, 31, went 0-4 with a 5.79 ERA in 23 1/3 innings over 23 games with the Orioles and 2-0 with a 1.94 ERA and 16 saves in 41 2/3 innings over 39 games…The Orioles cleared another spot on their 40-man roster this afternoon by outrighting reliever Evan Meek to Triple-A Norfolk.

Meek, who signed a minor league deal with the Orioles in February following a tryout at Camden Yards during FanFest, cleared waivers before coming off the roster. He can refuse the assignment and become a free agent.

meek-white-pitching-sidebar.jpgMeek, 31, went 0-4 with a 5.79 ERA in 23 1/3 innings over 23 games with the Orioles and 2-0 with a 1.94 ERA and 16 saves in 41 2/3 innings over 39 games with Norfolk. He made the Orioles’ opening day roster instead of veteran Alfredo Aceves, who agreed to terms with the Orioles during their minicamp in January.

Meek was an All-Star with the Pirates in 2010.

The Orioles now have 38 players on their 40-man roster. More spots will open up as free agency begins Thursday morning following Game 7 of the World Series.

The list of potential free agents is comprised of Alexi Casilla, Wei-Yin Chen, Nelson Cruz, Nick Hundley, Kelly Johnson, Nick Markakis, Andrew Miller, Darren O’Day, Johan Santana, Joe Saunders and Delmon Young. The Orioles will pick up the options on Chen and O’Day, reducing the total to nine. Santana is on the 60-day DL and doesn’t count against the current 40-man total.