By Britt Ghiroli

The Orioles will select the contract of Nate McLouth prior to tonight’s game, designating Endy Chavez for assignment to clear room on the 40 and 25-man rosters. McLouth, who had an opt-out in his contract at midnight, arrived in St. Petersburg, Fla. late last night and is starting in left field for the second of three games against the Rays.

Chavez batted just .190 with a .222 on-base percentage in 47 games this season with Baltimore, his fourth club since 2008. The 34-year-old tallied two home runs and eight RBIs in 121 at-bats.

McLouth signed with the Orioles on June 5, five days after he was let go by the Pirates. He hit .244 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs in 47 games at Triple-A Norfolk. The eight-year veteran was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2008, when he hit .276 with 46 doubles, 26 homers, 94 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. He played with Pittsburgh from 2005–09 before spending nearly three seasons with the Braves.

In 57 at-bats with the Pirates prior to his release on May 31, McLouth, 30, batted .140

Here is what McLouth had to say this afternoon…

[on his opt-out clause at midnight last night] “I was just at a point where I felt like opting out was the best way to go and I was comfortable with whatever decision they made. I’m certainly happy that I’m up here though.

“It can be a tense time but I really, I have faith in god’s plan for my life and I was good either way. It was, like I said, I’m certainly happy it turned out the way it did. But I was comfortable either way.”

[on what he did in Norfolk] “I started off kind of rough. Rough in the sense that I just wasn’t getting any hits. I felt comfortable; I have felt comfortable in my approach, especially the last month. And sometimes those things are going to fall, sometimes they are not. And I just got to a point where I detached my feelings from the result of the at-bat and just focused on the process of the at-bat. And I think that’s the best way to go. I’m really comfortable with where I’m at.”

[on being with Baltimore] “It’s a great opportunity. I don’t know what my role is going to be. Frankly, I’m just looking forward to whatever it’s going to be. Thankful for the opportunity and excited to get started.”

“With Pittsburgh this year, I didn’t get a lot of consistent at-bats. And I knew that was the role, I was going to be pinch-hitting and starting here or there. I just wasn’t able to get a comfort level in that particular role. But being at triple- and playing every single day and getting those consistent at-bats. It’s a big difference. It really gives you respect for those guys who can excel in those bench roles and come in and face eighth and ninth inning guys and have success. Because it’s a really tough thing ot do. But, yeah I’m looking forward to getting it started here.”

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[on his opt-out clause at midnight last night] I was just at a point where I felt like opting out was the best way to go and I was comfortable with whatever decision they made. I’m certainly happy that I’m up here though.

[on the last few days] “It can be a tense time but I really, I have faith in god’s plan for my life and I was good either way. It was, like I said, I’m certainly happy it turned out the way it did. But I was comfortable either way.”

I got here pretty late last night.

[found out] yesterday early afternoon some time.

[on what he did in Norfolk] “I started off kind of rough. Rough in the sense that I just wasn’t getting any hits. I felt comfortable; I have felt comfortable in my approach, especially the last month. And sometimes those things are going to fall, sometimes they are not. And I just got to a point where I detached my feelings from the result of the at-bat and just focused on the process of the at-bat. And I think that’s the best way to go. I’m really comfortable with where I’m at.”

[on being with Baltimore] “It’s a great opportunity. I don’t know what my role is going to be. Frankly, I’m just looking forward to whatever it’s going to be. Thankful for the opportunity and excited to get started.”

With Pittsburgh this year, I didn’t get a lot of consistent at-bats. And I knew that was the role, I was going to be pinch-hitting and starting here or there. I just wasn’t able to get a comfort level in that particular role. But being at triple- and playing every single day and getting those consistent at-bats. It’s a big difference. It really gives you respect for those guys who can excel in those bench roles and come in and face eighth and ninth inning guys and have success. Because it’s a really tough thing to do. But, yeah I’m looking forward to getting it started here.