Orioles option Wei-Yin Chen to minors, call up Chris Parmelee

BALTIMORE -- Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen has been optioned to Class A Frederick by the Baltimore Orioles, a move the pitcher claims left him "disappointed."

The move was made Tuesday so the Orioles could select the contract of infielder Chris Parmelee from Triple-A Norfolk.

Chen (3-4) pitched eight scoreless innings Monday against Philadelphia, but manager Buck Showalter said the lefty complained of fatigue following his prior outing.

"We really didn't like the description of some of the things he was feeling after his start on the 10th," Showalter said. "He felt a lot better last night, but we're trying to get ahead of some things with him."

The manager added: "We explained the whole thing, and he understands, especially when we've done it with him once or twice."

Chen, however, insisted on his Twitter page that he is completely healthy.

"I am in excellent physical shape. I feel great and I am ready for my next start," he Tweeted. "I just pitched 8 innings of shutout baseball. ... I am disappointed my routine is being interrupted."

Showalter said Chen was sent down to give him a short break. He will pitch three to four innings Saturday and return to the Orioles when he is eligible on June 26.

"A byproduct with him is that it allows us to manage the roster with Chris, and a couple other factors, too," Showalter said.

The Orioles have made similar roster moves before, most recently when they optioned Chen and right-hander Kevin Gausman in late August 2014 to add extra position players. When September call-ups came, both returned without missing turns in the rotation

A former first-round draft pick by Minnesota, Parmelee, 27, had a June 15 opt-out clause in his contract. He hit .312 with 13 doubles, six homers and 32 RBIs at Norfolk and started in right field against the Phillies and bat fifth.

Baltimore transferred second baseman Jonathan Schoop to the 60-day disabled list.

The Orioles could've also sent right-hander Mike Wright to the minors, but other candidates for a move lacked minor league options.

Parmelee has a career average of .249 across parts of four seasons with the Twins before he signed a minor league contract with Baltimore in January.

"We like Chris. We want to see what he can do," Showalter said. "Because I know where they're going to end up. Might be seeing them in the other dugout."