AL East Notebook: Orioles/Yankees

Some news and notes surrounding the Red Sox' AL East rivals, the Orioles and Yankees, as spring training opens:

Orioles
—OF Chris Roberson, acquired by the Orioles from Phillies in a cash deal last month, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Norfolk.

—RHP Steve Trachsel, who began last season with the Orioles, signed a minor league deal with Baltimore. He is expected to battle for a rotation spot this spring. Trachsel was 6-8 with a 4.48 ERA with Baltimore before going to the Cubs in a deal that netted INF Scott Moore, RHP Rocky Cherry and a player to be named. The veteran went 1-3 with an 8.31 ERA for Chicago, which didn't tender him a contract after the season, making him a free agent.

—RHP Jeremy Guthrie, whose 3.70 ERA in 28 starts was second among Orioles starters to Erik Bedard, is the most likely candidate to be the Opening Day starter despite his 7-5 record last year, his rookie season.

—RHP Randor Bierd, a Rule 5 pick from the Tigers, is a longshot to make the roster, but if the reliever doesn't earn a spot with the Orioles he will have to be offered back to the Tigers.

—RHP Daniel Cabrera (9-18, .555 in 2007), who was arbitration-eligible, was one of three pitchers to sign one-year contracts on Feb. 7. RHP Jim Hoey and LHP Troy Patton signed the same day.

—LHP Troy Patton, one of the players acquired during the offseason in the trade that sent SS Miguel Tejada to the Astros, signed a one-year contract on Feb. 7. He will be given the opportunity to earn a slot in the starting rotation.

—OF Jay Payton might be the odd man out as the Orioles complete their outfield with Adam Jones coming from the Mariners. Nick Markakis is solid in right field, and Luke Scott, who came from the Astros, has the best shot at the left-field job.

BY THE NUMBERS: 9—The number of players that have come into the Orioles' organization—four from the Astros and five from the Mariners—in exchange for Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There was definitely a protocol that had to be followed. There was a lot of thought that goes into these things and there's a lot of information-gathering that takes place. I think with anything of this magnitude, you take your time on it because you want to get it done right." —GM Andy MacPhail, explaining why it took several weeks to complete the trade of Erik Bedard to the Mariners.


Yankees
—RHP Chien-Ming Wang lost in arbitration, getting $4 million rather than the $4.6 million he was seeking. He made $489,500 last year, when he won 19 games for the second consecutive season.

—INF Chris Woodward, 31, was invited to big-league spring training camp on a minor league contract. The veteran, who played all four infield positions last year with Atlanta, joins a mix of right-handed candidates for a reserve spot. He also plays the outfield and batted .199 last year with a homer and eight RBI.

—INF Eduardo Nunez, 19, will appear in major league spring training as a non-roster invitee. A starting shortstop in the 2007 Class A South Atlantic League All-Star Game, Nunez hit .238 with 10 doubles, two triples, one homer, 28 RBI and 20 steals in 91 games.

—1B/OF Shelley Duncan could play himself prominently into the mix at first base in the Yankees' left-leaning lineup. Duncan's ascension might reduce 1B Jason Giambi to more of a pinch-hitting/designated hitter role, but the club believes the 27-year-old power hitter can be more than adequate defensively. He hit seven homers in 74 at-bats with the Yanks in '07.

—RHP Edwar Ramirez, 26, has a chance to impact the club's bullpen this year. His changeup can be devastating, but he needs increased innings to be more effective. Equally spotty and brilliant at times last year, Ramirez still recorded 31 strikeouts in 21 big-league innings.

—3B Alex Rodriguez might need another huge April to completely win back the fans after he originally opted out of his contract last year and refused an initial invitation to speak with Yankees executives about an extension. Last year, A-Rod kicked off his MVP season with a .355 average, 14 home runs and 34 RBI in 93 April at-bats.

BY THE NUMBERS: 520—Number of runs the Yankees scored at home in 2007, tied for the third highest such total in franchise history. The club's 6.4 runs per game at Yankee Stadium was the highest average at home of any club in the majors last year.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Trying to get out of Joe [Torre's] shadow and trying to develop his own identity."—Former Yankees pitcher David Cone on what he believes is new manager Joe Girardi's most important task this spring.