O's may use six-man rotation when Johan arrives

ARLINGTON -- Could the Orioles go to a six-man rotation when Johan Santana is ready?

Manager Buck Showalter left open the possibility on Tuesday.

"I could if I wanted to," Showalter said. "Not saying I'm going to. Could. That part of it, he's not competing against the people up here [current Orioles starters]. He's competing to be good enough to compete against [Orioles opponents]."

Santana opted to stay in the organization and not exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, with the Orioles announcing on Monday that they had selected his contract -- adding him to the 40-man roster -- while the lefty continues to rehab. Santana is expected to make one rehab start at Double-A and then another at Triple-A and could be an option by mid-June.

"I don't think there will be anything difficult about it," Showalter said of finding room for Santana in the rotation. "I've been hinting around at going to six starters anyway. It's not a problem. Anytime there are good pitchers available, especially with his pedigree."