Hess on returning, Showalter on Britton leaving

The Orioles announced today that they recalled right-hander David Hess from Triple-A Norfolk and he's headed to the bullpen, filling the roster spot that belonged to closer Zach Britton. And Chris Tillman has been released, which allows him to become a free agent and attempt to latch on with another team.

Left-hander Donnie Hart wasn't eligible to rejoin the Orioles because he hadn't been down for the minimum 10 days.

Tides manager Ron Johnson told Hess late last night about his promotion. He instructed Hess to pack his bags and head to Baltimore.

"It was pretty shortly after I got a notification that the trade had gone through and been finalized," Hess said. "There was obviously a little bit of time to get everything together and get over here. Looking forward to it."

Hess made nine starts among his 10 appearances with the Orioles and was 2-5 with a 6.06 ERA and 1.531 WHIP in 49 innings. He surrendered 11 home runs.

The return trip to Norfolk provided three starts for him, the last producing seven scoreless innings and only two hits allowed in Rochester. He struck out nine batters.

"I think my last outing was good, I felt back to myself," he said. "I think working with Griff (Mike Griffin) down there and kind of being around a different environment for a little bit, getting some time to work on what I needed to work on to get back to myself, I think it proved fruitful and I think I'm back where I need to be.

"Primarily just fastball command. My last outing we really worked a lot on my splitter. I think those two things together kind of work hand in hand and going forward that will be a big weapon that I think will be useful."

Hess, who's working on three days' rest if he pitches tonight, won't find a spot in the rotation with Yefry Ramírez getting more starts. He's bullpen bound.

"Really, I'm just on board for whatever they need me for," he said. "I'm here to help the team win and whatever I can do to contribute. I've had experiences with both in the past. I've had a little experience out of the 'pen. Not really in the minor leagues, but I did it a year of that in college. Granted, it is a little bit different, but I think if that's what's asked of me, I'll be ready."

Hess appreciated the time spent with Britton during his first tour of the majors.

"When I got the news last night, I was really happy for the organization and how that helps us move forward, but I was on a personal note sad because he was a guy that the time I was up here for that month and a half, he did exactly what you'd want a veteran to do," Hess said. "Came in and just kind of explained some things and was always there to give advice, and if he saw something he was always very quick to say something about it.

"He was a really good example of what it looks like to be a veteran guy, a veteran leader, so I hope nothing but the best for him. He was great to have around and in the short time that I did get with him, I think I had a lot that I learned from him. The Yankees got a good one."

Manager Buck Showalter sat with Britton in his office until around 1 a.m., reminiscing and struggling to say their last goodbyes.

The conversation was one "we were both avoiding," Showalter said.

"I knew he was still out there. There was a period there after the game that it wasn't official. They were still looking over some medical records. But I finally looked out in the locker room and it was basically just he and me and the clubbies here. Got him in my office for quite a while. Tough.

"He was asking me some questions about New York. I gave him some advice. My best advice was, 'Pitch well.' It'll go great. He will.

"We reminisced some. I asked him about his favorite moments here. That choked us both up."

Both men lingered in the office until Showalter finally found a way to initiate the parting.

"I know at the end last night it was getting close to 1 o'clock and it's like you don't know how to say goodbye," Showalter said. "He sitting there. I said, 'Here's what we're going to do. You're going to get up, you're going to walk out that door, I'm going to get up and walk back to the shower, and see you later.' I think he was relieved. It was like two people who don't know how to exit."

Britton, Tillman and Manny Machado are gone. It's a reality in this business, but also a tough pill to swallow.

"It's hard," Showalter said. "Think about our fans, too. They've been with them. It's painful to some extent, but some of the pain goes away when you look at the eight players and the Oriole team we're trying to put together, not only this year but in the future. And I'll say again, we've got some people who didn't come over in the trades that I'm really excited about in the organization. It's not like there's nobody down there. But you add those to the mix. There's some different levels of guys.

"Obviously, pitching is always a premium and we've added some of that depth. I'm sure some publication will come out and rank our farm system with these guys in it. I won't look at it."

Showalter hasn't designated a new closer. He's going to let the games and availability dictate his choices. He'd like to be put in a situation where he's got a save opportunity on the table.

"It wasn't something that we aren't experienced at because we've operated a lot of this season without Zach," Showalter said. "I've got some ideas, some thoughts on it, things that I think I'd like to have us accomplish as an organization so we can make good decisions as we go forward. I've got a couple thoughts. Some of them might be unconventional. We'll see.

"One, we'd like to create a save situation. That's our first challenge. And then what we have to do to get there."

Showalter has watched video of the three pitchers obtained from the Yankees - Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers and Cody Carroll.

"I've got a good feel for it," Showalter said. "It's exciting. It's a good group.

"Some of them are close to being ready to play here, too. It's exciting."

Head athletic trainer Brian Ebel missed most of last night's game while reviewing their medicals.

"Every player has a risk. Everyone does," Showalter said. "There's no clean physical. But I think certainly I'm really impressed so far by the quality of players that we got back."

Tillman was released after declining an offer to stay in the organization and report to Triple-A Norfolk.

"I was hopeful that he would come back with us and I understand why he didn't," Showalter said. "I don't know what's going to happen. I think there's a chance somebody could still sign him. I don't know if Chris is going to go home and kind of start clean. That's his call now. I still think he's got the potential to be a solid starter again. There are some things that he's got to get over, so to speak. I would not count him short. But I understand his thinking and his reasoning. I'm sure he and his family talked about it along.

"Your paths have a way of crossing again, so we wish him well. He's done a lot of great things here, very much like the two guys that we lost."

Here are the listed starters for the Rays series at Camden Yards

Thursday: Alex Cobb vs. Hunter Wood
Friday: Andrew Cashner vs. Chris Archer
Saturday: Kevin Gausman vs. TBD
Sunday: Yefry Ramírez vs. TBD

For the Red Sox
Mookie Betts RF
Andrew Benintendi LF
J.D. Martinez DH
Xander Bogaerts SS
Steve Pearce 1B
Brock Holt 2B
Rafael Devers 3B
Sandy Leon C
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF

David Price LHP