The Orioles have signed 28-year old righty reliever Josh Rupe to a minor league deal. Rupe pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA and a 2.17 WHIP. He has now pitched in 81 games (1 start) in parts of five years and he is 5-3 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Rupe will have a chance to win a job in the O’s pen next spring.

23-year old lefty starting pitcher Brian Matusz finished tied for 5th for the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award with Rays’ catcher John Jaso and 25-year old outfielder Brennan Boesch of the Tigers. Matusz started 32 games for the Orioles last season and he was 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has now pitched in 40 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Orioles and he is 15-14 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Matusz has a bright future for the Orioles as he will be working near the front end of the starting rotation.

The Orioles have had two players reject minor league assignments to become free agents. 27-year old lefty swinging 1B Rhyne Hughes played in 14 games for the O’s last season and he was 10 for 47 (.213 avg, .530 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 4 RBIs. He also played in 104 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 100 of 388 (.258 avg, .723 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 10 homers, 39 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.

27-year old righty reliever Armando Gabino is also leaving the O’s. He pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last season and he was 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP. He gave up 9 hits and walked 3 batters in only 4 2/3 innings so the Orioles saw more than enough of him. Gabino also pitched in 32 games (8 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 7-0 with 3 saves, a 2.45 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

The Orioles have signed 25-year old righty reliever Mitch Atkins to a minor league deal. Atkins pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 0-0 with a 6.30 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. He also pitched in 28 games (15 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 8-3 with 1 save, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Atkins has now pitched in 7 games (0 starts) in parts of two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. The Orioles will give Atkins a legit shot to win a job in the bullpen next spring.

The Orioles have declined 36-year old lefty reliever Mark Hendrickson’s 2011 option valued at $1.2 million bucks. They instead paid him a $200K buyout to leave. Hendrickson pitched in 52 games (1 start) for the Orioles last season and he was 1-6 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Hendrickson pitched in 105 games (12 starts) in two seasons with the O’s and he was 7-11 with 1 save, a 4.74 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. The Orioles pitching staff just got better for 2011 because Mark Hendrickson won’t be on it.