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Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (pictured) was on his way to his second strong performance in a row when he grabbed at his side and exited Sunday's game with a right oblique strain. That's very bad news for a team that already has called on four Triple-A starters to fill in the fifth slot in the rotation and replace injured Miguel Gonzalez. It was a tough week already, after so-so outings by Jason Hammel, Freddy Garcia and Steve Johnson, and that was reflected in the combined numbers. The rotation posted a 2-2 record with a 6.03 ERA and averaged just five innings per start. Even though the team managed to go 4-2 in those games, this is starting to get scary.
Grade: D (Hannah Foslien / Getty Images /May 12, 2013)
Jason Hammel's breakout season in 2012 was rewarded Friday when he agreed to a one-year, $6.75 million deal with the Orioles to avoid arbitration. He could make up to $300,000 more in performance incentives.
Closer Jim Johnson also agreed to a one-year deal Friday ($6.5 million), leaving just reliever Darren O’Day as the only arbitration-eligible player remaining on the club.
Hammel, 30, went 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 20 starts for the Orioles last season.
Acquired last February from the Colorado Rockies in a deal for Jeremy Guthrie, Hammel emerged as the club’s top starter in the first half of the season, but a knee injury required surgery and limited his second half to just three regular season games.
Coming off the big year, Hammel has asked for $8.25 million and the Orioles had countered with $5.7 million. They agreed just below the midpoint, with the possibility of exceeding the midpoint if he reaches the incentives. Hammel made $4.75 million in 2012.
This upcoming season will be his last one before he can become a free agent.
