The Orioles have designated 26-year old righty reliever/starter Rick VandenHurk for assignment. VandenHurk pitched in 4 games (2 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 0-0 with a 8.00 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP. He pitched in 11 games (3 starts) in his two years with the Orioles and he was 0-1 with a 6.04 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He has now pitched in 46 games (35 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 8-10 with a 5.97 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. The Orioles won’t miss VandenHurk if they lose him on waivers.

UPDATE: (2/4/2012) - The Orioles have released Rick VandenHurk.

The Orioles have signed 30-year old switch-hitting 3B Wilson Betemit to a 2-year deal with a club option for the 2014 season. Betemit played in 97 games overall last year for the Tigers & Royals and he is 92 for 323 (.285 avg, .795 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 8 homers, 46 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 697 games in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 469 for 1,742 (.269 avg, .784 OPS) with 223 runs scored, 63 homers, 243 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. The Orioles might view Betemit as their DH and I think he would do a good job in that role as he has always been a solid hitter.

The Orioles have signed 30-year old righty starting pitcher Armando Galarraga to a minor league deal. Galarraga pitched in 8 games (all starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He has now pitched in 95 games (86 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 26-30 with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Galarraga will get a shot to win a job in the Orioles’ starting rotation this spring.

The Orioles have signed 30-year old righty reliever Oscar Villarreal to a minor league deal. He pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball and Mexico last year in which he was 0-4 with 18 saves, a 3.02 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors in 2008 with the Astros. He has pitched in 258 games (5 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 24-15 with 1 save, a 3.86 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Villarreal will get a shot to win a job in the pen this spring.

The Orioles have signed 34-year old righty reliever Winston Abreu to a minor league deal. Abreu pitched in 53 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Blue Jays last year and he was 8-5 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Indians. Abreu has pitched in 38 games (0 starts) in his first 3 years in the majors and he is 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.