Just when everyone thought the Orioles roster was set a few days before the start of the season, Baltimore claimed SS-R Jose Morban off waivers from Minnesota. Texas signed Morban as a nondrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1996. He spent two seasons with the Rangers' Dominican Summer League affiliate before joining their Rookie level Gulf Coast League team in 1999. He split 2000 between A Savannah in the South Atlantic League and R Pulaski in the Appalachian League, before settling at Savannah for the 2001 season. Last year, Morban advanced to A+ Charlotte in the Florida State League, where he hit .260 with a .326 OBP and .414 SLG on 126 H, 27 2B, 12 3B, and 9 HR with a 46:111 BB:K and 21/30 SB% in 485 AB. While the 23-year-old should work on improving his plate discipline to take full advantage of his obviously substantial speed skills, he also appears to possess promising power potential.

However, the Twins grabbed him from the Rangers in this off-season's Rule 5 draft. Minnesota has a strong core of position prospects, but their middle infield prospect depth does not match the strength of the other positions. Consequently, the thought of adding Morban to the system appealed to them, but they are competing to win now and wanted more production from his roster spot. The Twins might have attempted to work out a minor trade with Texas for the rights to send him down if Baltimore hadn't intercepted him on his way through waivers.