Fox DFA’ed, Matusz activated

The Orioles have designated catcher/infielder Jake Fox for assignment to make room for Wednesday’s starting pitcher Brian Matusz.

Fox said he was told the team is going to try to work out a trade –which is how he was acquired from Oakland – and didn’t foresee a scenario where he ended up clearing waivers. Fox also said he has no interest in playing in the Minor Leagues at this point in his career.

Fox made the Orioles out of Spring Training as a backup catcher, but the addition of Craig Tatum last week has him in more of a bench role. Fox enters Wednesday hitting .188 in 19 games, including 12 starts, and has struggled to get consistent playing time because of those struggles.

“If a guy is playing well and hitting well, it’s not that hard to find opportunities,” manager Buck Showalter said on Tuesday. “Jake hasn’t made good use of the opportunities he’s had, with some exceptions. We saw in Spring Training, in that environment, what he’s capable of. So we will see.”

The Orioles acquired Fox last June from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league reliever Ross Wolf. Fox, 28, batted .220 with five homers and 10 RBIs in 38 games for them last season.