Orioles Outright Francisco Peguero

TODAY, 7:49pm: Peguero has accepted his assignment and is in the lineup for Norfolk this evening, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.

7:39pm: Peguero has rejected the assignment and elected free agency, according to the MLB transactions page.

YESTERDAY: The Orioles announced that they have outrighted the contract of outfielder Francisco Peguero to Triple-A Norfolk.

Baltimore signed Peguero, 26, to a Major League contract this offseason despite the fact that he has just 46 big league plate appearances under his belt. Peguero batted a combined .200/.217/.289 from 2012-13 with the Giants and was released after the season. Once considered one of San Francisco’s top prospects, Peguero is a career .306/.337/.427 hitter in the minors, which is nearly identical to the .307/.338/.429 batting line he’s put together this season with Norfolk. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette explained his thinking behind the Major League contract to MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes this offseason.

Peguero was one of three minor league free agents signed to Major League deals by the O’s this winter; right-hander Edgmer Escalona — who was also outrighted just yesterday — and lefty Kelvin De La Cruz were both signed to big league deals as well despite having little to no Major League experience.