SEATTLE -- The Orioles made a series of roster moves on Thursday, recalling Caleb Joseph and Vance Worley, optioning Oliver Drake and Francisco Pena to Triple-A Norfolk, and purchasing the contract of reliever Chaz Roe.
The O's also placed T.J. McFarland on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee injury.
Joseph and Worley were expected as the pair recently wrapped up their respective rehab assignments. McFarland --who allowed three earned runs in an inning on Tuesday -- has struggled, and manager Buck Showalter said that the lefty wasn't pushing off the mound like he usually does.
"You can see that last outing just wasn't him. He's never been on the disabled list in his life, but this is something we got to get taken care of," Showalter said of McFarland, who will be seen by team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs in Baltimore. "If [Jacobs] finds what we think he will, [McFarland] will head to Sarasota and start rehabbing. It's been a challenge for him."
Joseph, who was sidelined with a testicular injury, last appeared in a game on May 30. He had been catching for Class A Frederick and said Thursday he's feeling strong and ready to go.
"I'd be lying if I didn't say certain pitchers in certain counts to certain-type of hitters, it kind of crosses my mind. But I think that is normal," said Joseph who had surgery after taking a foul ball to his groin area. "And it didn't affect the way I caught the ball. The first [rehab] game, it went through my head, but not in the last two. This is a dangerous sport sometimes, and you're seeing it the last couple of weeks. We've seen guys really go down, and it's a violent sport sometimes. You know the risks and you have to get past it mentally."
Joseph will take over the backup job behind Matt Wieters, with Worley and Roe giving the O's bullpen some fresh arms. Roe pitched for the O's last season but started the year in Triple-A after clearing waivers in Spring Training.