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Rays Cut 7 From Roster, Including Orvella

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Chad Orvella, who spent last season on the DL with a shoulder injury, watches the Yankees' Jorge Posada circle the bases after hitting a home run this spring. Orvella was reassigned to minor-league camp.

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 10, 2009

PORT CHARLOTTE - The Tampa Bay Rays made their first round of cuts this morning, trimming seven players from the roster.

The most notable name on the list was reliever Chad Orvella, who is still working up to full speed after spending all of last year on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. He was reassigned to minor-league camp along with five others: pitchers Jason Cromer, Neal Frontz and Calvin Medlock and catchers Craig Albernaz and Nevin Ashley.

The Rays also optioned left-hander James Houser to Triple-A Durham.

The moves leave the Rays with 56 players officially in camp, although three of them (Aki Iwamura, J.P. Howell and Willy Aybar) are away for the World Baseball Classic.

Orvella said he didn't expect to make the team, considering he is making his way back from shoulder surgery last May, and he just needs to keep pitching, whether it's in a big-league camp or on the minor-league side.

"Starters are starting to pitch a little more, so innings are starting to go away, and I need to get my innings, too," he said. "It's not unexpected that I was being sent down or anything, but possibly this early."

The 28-year-old has 69 career big-league appearances spread over 2005, 2006 and 2007 after being named the Rays' minor league pitcher of the year in 2004. Injuries have held him back recently, but Orvella said he "absolutely" will be ready to pitch in the majors at some point this year if needed.

"I wanted to prove to myself that I was healthy," he said of his time in camp. "I think my velocity's still coming back. I feel great out there, and every day I pitch, the next day I feel good. Mentally, that's nice to feel that way."

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