O's Make Moves; Release Adam Loewen

If you all have not heard, the Orioles made a series of moves Monday afternoon, the biggest being the release of Adam Loewen.

The Orioles conducted some offseason housekeeping on Monday when they released former first-round Draft pick Adam Loewen and outrighted five players to Triple-A Norfolk. Loewen, who has retired as a pitcher due to recurring elbow injuries, is attempting to reignite his career as a position player, and he likely will ink a Minor League contract with the team some time soon.

Loewen missed virtually all of the 2007 season with a stress fracture in his left elbow, an injury that took an operation to repair. The southpaw went through all the requisite rehabilitation, but he suffered the same injury last season and was told it would take 18 months to recover from another surgery, a realization that spurred him to try his hand at hitting.

In addition to the Loewen move, Baltimore outrighted pitchers Randor Bierd and Rocky Cherry, infielder Brando Fahey, outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Omir Santos to Norfolk. Fiorentino was lost on a waiver claim last winter and subsequently returned to the organization via the same process during the season.

Although Loewen was released, the move may just be procedural -- he may re-sign with the team in a minor league deal and try to find his way back into the majors as a hitter. He's obviously not a major league pitcher anymore; thus, it does not make any sense to pay him as if he was one. I surmise he would be exposed to waivers; however, I don't see him being picked up by anyone.

I hope Loewen makes it back to Baltimore, or anywhere in the majors. Considering his work ethic, and how many have spoke about him with such reverence, he very well could become another Rick Ankiel.

He more than likely not even see if the majors -- that's even if he makes it -- for perhaps several years and if so, does he just become a bench player or a full-time regular?

Right now, he cannot help out the Baltimore Orioles in the near future, so it is best he work on his hitting tools and learn to be a position player.