SARASOTA, Fla. -- Former Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Ted Higuera, one of the best pitchers in the American League before tearing his rotator cuff prior to the 1991 season, will join the Orioles in St. Petersburg Friday. Higuera, a 36-year-old free agent, will audition for manager Phil Regan in an effort to earn a contract with the Orioles.
"His agent says he's thrown really well this winter," Regan said. "He wanted to come in and throw once. I asked him if he would mind staying and throwing two or three times for us, so we could get a good look at him."
Higuera won 54 games over three seasons from 1986-88. However, he began having physical problems in 1989.
Before injuring his shoulder, however, Higuera signed a long-term deal with the Brewers, and last summer, in the final year of the contract, he earned $3.5 million.
Higuera went 1-5 with a 7.06 ERA in 17 games for the Brewers last year. His record improved markedly pitching for Guasave of the Mexican League: a 4-3 record, 2.61 ERA, allowing 37 hits and 21 walks and striking out 37 in 51 2/3 innings.
If Higuera does sign a contract with the Orioles, it probably would be a minor-league deal with major-league incentives.
The Orioles are negotiating with another free-agent left-hander, Randy Tomlin.