Orioles make 1st cuts, optioning McDermott, sending 4 others to minor league camp

SARASOTA—The Orioles made their first cuts of spring training on Tuesday, optioning right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott to minor league camp and sending right-handed pitchers Jeisson Cabrera, Keagan Gillies and Richard Guasch, and infielder Payton Eeles to minor league camp.

McDermott, who was 0-1 with a 15.58 ERA in four games with the Orioles last season, allowed three home runs on three consecutive pitches on Saturday. He had two scoreless innings before that.

Cabrera, who was signed as a free agent from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, allowed four runs on three hits and four walks in 1 1/3 innings over two games. He struck out two batters.

Guasch, pronounced “Wash,” who pitched in the Detroit organization last season, retired two batters with one strikeout in his only Grapefruit League game.

Eeles, who collided with Enrique Bradfield Jr. at Lakeland on February 22^nd, hasn’t been able to play because of a shoulder injury. He was hitless in his only at-bat. Eeles was acquired from Minnesota in a trade for catcher Alex Jackson last November.

Gillies, who had been invited to major league camp for the first time, suffered a quadriceps injury early in camp that will sideline him for all of spring training.

Minor league camp begins at Twin Lakes Park on Thursday.

The Orioles’ roster has 69 players, including 28 non-roster invitees and pitchers Félix Bautista and Colin Selby on the 60-day injured list.

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