The Orioles have signed 36-year old lefty starting pitcher Randy Wolf. Wolf pitched in 25 games (24 starts) for the Brewers earlier this year and he was 3-10 with a 5.69 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has now pitched in 371 games (366 starts) in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 130-117 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. If Wolf has anything left, he is going to help the Orioles. Buck Showalter hasn’t decided whether Wolf will join the rotation or work out of the bullpen.

24-year old righty starter/reliever Steve Johnson has pitched pretty well for the Orioles so far this year. He has pitched in 5 games (2 starts) or the Orioles so far this year and he is 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Johnson has given up 13 hits and 6 walks in his first 17 innings while whiffing 23 batters for the Orioles so far and those are impressive numbers. Johnson is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in his first two starts for the Orioles and they will likely keep him in the rotation as long as he is pitching well.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 31-year old lefty starting pitcher Joe Saunders and cash from the D-Backs for 32-year old righty reliever Matt Lindstrom and a player to be named later. Saunders pitched in 21 games (all starts) for the Diamondbacks this year and he was 6-10 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 182 games (all starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 75-62 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Matt Lindstrom pitched in 34 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this year and he was 1-0 with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The Orioles have a deep bullpen, so they should be o.k. even though they lost Lindstrom. This was a great trade for the Orioles as Saunders will improve the rotation big time the rest of the 2012 season.

The Orioles have designated 36-year old lefty reliever J.C. Romero for assignment. Romero pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this year and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has now pitched in 16 games (0 starts) overall this year for the Orioles and Cardinals in which he is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. It appears that Romero just doesn’t have it anymore.

UPDATE: (8/27/2012) - J.C. Romero has cleared waivers and he has elected to become a free agent.

When rosters expand to 40 on September 1st, 27-year old righty reliever Pat Egan could get his first shot at the show. He has pitched in 37 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball so far this year for the Orioles and he is 3-1 with 2 saves, a 1.71 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Egan has now pitched in 189 games (31 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 21-20 with 12 saves, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has been flat out outstanding so far in 2012.

30-year old lefty swinging 2B Omar Quintanilla continues to do a good job for the Orioles. He has played in 25 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 23 of 80 (.288 avg, .771 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Quintanilla has now played in 54 games overall this year for the Mets and Orioles in which he is 41 of 150 (.273 avg, .748 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 4 homers and 15 RBIs. The Orioles hope he keeps up the good work as he has filled a black hole at 2B for them since coming over in a deal with the Mets.

The Orioles have placed 30-year old switch-hitting 1B/3B/OF Wilson Betemit on the 15-day disabled list due to a right wrist injury. Betemit has played in 97 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 87 of 329 (.264 avg, .755 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 12 homers and 37 RBIs. The Orioles have called up 25-year old lefty swinging 1B Joe Mahoney to replace Betemit on the active roster. Mahoney played in 1 game for the Orioles earlier this year and he was 0 for 3 (.000 avg). He has also played in 117 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 116 of 441 (.263 avg, .707 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 9 homers, 53 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Don’t look for Mahoney to get too much P.T.

The Orioles have designated 26-year old righty reliever Miguel Socolovich for assignment. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this year and he was 0-0 with a 6.97 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Socolovich also pitched in 28 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Orioles this year in which he was 4-0 with 2 saves, a 1.90 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. The Orioles are hoping that Socolovich clears waivers so that they can keep him around.

UPDATE: (8/24/2012) - The Cubs have claimed Miguel Socolovich off waivers from the Orioles.

The Orioles have placed 26-year old lefty reliever Troy Patton on the 15-day disabled list due to a sprained right ankle. Patton has pitched in 50 games (0 starts) for the Orioles so far this year and he is 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He has given up only 43 hits and 11 walks in his first 52 1/3 innings while whiffing 48 batters as he has been impressive so far this year. His injury explains why the O’s dealt for J.C. Romero yesterday.

The Baltimore Orioles acquired 36-year old lefty reliever J.C. Romero from the Indians for 28-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Carlos Rojas. Romero pitched in 17 games (1 start) earlier this year in AAA-ball for the Orioles in which he was 1-0 with 2 saves, a 2.51 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Romero has pitched in 675 games (22 starts) in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 34-28 with 7 saves, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Rojas played in 48 games in AA+AAA-ball for the Orioles this year and he was 30 for 133 (.226 avg, .533 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 0 homers and 9 RBIs. This was a good move for the Orioles.