Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2017: Latest roster moves as spring training ends

The latest Baltimore Orioles news includes the latest Orioles roster changes as the team prepares for Opening Day.

With the end of the 2017 Baltimore Orioles spring training here, the Orioles now progress north to Baltimore, Maryland as they prepare to take on AL East division rival Toronto Blue Jays on Orioles Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Many changes were made following Thursday’s spring training loss to the Detriot Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium where the Orioles scored just three runs to the Tigers’ seven. Bundy tossed six innings, giving up five earned runs, including three home runs in a loss to the Tigers. Despite the poor outing, Bundy showed signs of a dominating changeup Thursday.

Chris Davis crushed his way to the end of spring training, smacking his third home run of the spring season. Davis ends spring training hitting three home runs in his final 18 at-bats.

Must Read: FanSided's 2017 MLB season Preview

With the completion of spring training comes significant roster moves as the team finalizes their roster for Orioles Opening Day. Here is the latest Orioles news on the roster moves. Make sure to leave your thoughts on the O’s moves in the comments.

Baltimore Orioles roster moves: Pitching

Notable moves season to the Orioles devastating starting rotation, which took another hit today after the announcement that Orioles starter Wade Miley will start the season on the 10-day disabled list, per MASNsports Roch Kubatko. Also, Kubatko also confirmed that Miley is eligible to pitch April 9 against the New York Yankees.

As of now, the rare clarity in a hazy Orioles starting rotation is the Opening Day starter, which is the budding Kevin Gausman.  Furthermore, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter went on to announce 24-year-old starter Dylan Bundy as the No. 2 starter.

After Gausman and Bundy, the Orioles rotation contains vital question marks and concerns. Showalter didn’t provide much clarity after the latest pitching moves, some that leave you scratching your head, including newly-acquired Alec Asher‘s departure to AAA Norfolk. Also, Logan Verrett will join Asher in AAA Norfolk, as well.

With Miley on the disabled list, along with Asher and Verrett heading to Norfolk, leaves the Orioles with very little options to fill the rotation. Showalter narrowed the Orioles options, even more, stating that Tyler Wilson and Vidal Nuno will begin the season in the Orioles bullpen.

One thing Showalter clarified Thursday is that the Orioles pitching staff will include 11 pitchers with eight relieve pitchers, per Roch Kubatko. With Chris Tillman on the disabled list due to a shoulder injury that kept him out of spring training, starting pitcher options come down to Ubaldo Jimenez and Mike Wright, with Miley likely returning April 9.

The Orioles roster bodes well for the team’s hindered rotation as the team opens the season with two off days in four days. To clarify, both Tillman and Miley could return in time for the three solid starting pitchers to receive enough rest without Wright, Nuno, or Wilson needing to make a spot start.

Baltimore Orioles roster moves: Offense

On the offensive side, Robert Andino, Chris Dickerson, Johnny Giavotella and Paul Janish all were reassigned Thursday. Alvarez, who was a member of the O’s last season, was reassigned despite hitting .310 in just 29 at-bats this spring, along with two home runs and five RBIs. The 30-year-old pretty much did all you can to make a roster spot. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for Alvarez.

The deserving Trey Mancini, who put on an astounding spring training, earned himself a roster spot. Mancini hit an outstanding .333 this spring with three home runs, 20 hits and 14 RBIs. Along with Mancini, outfielder Joey Rickard made the team’s roster after hitting .291 with three home runs and seven RBIs.

Maybe, most impressive out of all the roster moves is 33-year-old Craig Gentry, who likely earned himself a roster spot following Thursday’s roster moves, according to Roch Kubatko.

The final day of Orioles spring training camp has come and gone. Next, the Orioles shift their focus to the regular season where they will attempt to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

FanSided 2017 MLB Season Preview

The ever growing network of fandom-focused sports FanSided.com released their 2017 MLB season preview, which includes FanSided’s release of their 2017 MLB power rankings and in-depth preview for each MLB team.

Below, you can find tweets that include links to the 2017 MLB and Baltimore Orioles season previews, which both are must-reads!

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