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O's claim righty Gabino from Twins

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By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com

11/09/09 5:05 PM EST

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles used the waiver wire to enhance their upper-level depth on Monday, when they announced that they had successfully claimed right-hander Armando Gabino from the Twins. Gabino, who made just two big league appearances last season, went 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA for Triple-A Rochester.

The Orioles have 34 players on the 40-man roster and may aggressively pursue adding talent through waiver claims and players non-tendered by their former club. Gabino will have a chance to compete for a long relief job in Spring Training, but likely fits better as a contingency plan at Triple-A Norfolk.

Gabino, 26, made his big league debut against the Orioles last August and got hit hard. Gabino allowed seven earned runs across two appearances, good for a 17.18 ERA in his brief Major League exposure. He's proven to be successful in the Minor Leagues, though, notching a 22-19 career record and a 3.41 ERA.

Gabino, a native of the Dominican Republic, was originally signed by the Indians in 2001. He joined the Twins organization in 2005 and spent the next three seasons rising through the system. Gabino finally reached Double-A at the end of the '07 season, and he spent all of '08 working as a reliever for New Britain.

Gabino worked 81 1/3 innings that season and put together a 6-5 record with a 3.10 ERA. Gabino took on an even heavier workload last year, when he pitched 98 innings and allowed just seven home runs. Baltimore's new acquisition has struck out (243) more than twice as many batters as he's walked (106) in his Minor League career.

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.