xml:space="preserve">
xml:space="preserve">
Advertisement
Advertisement

No ace; five of a kind in 'pen

The Orioles and new executive vice president Dan Duquette have made several head-scratching moves this offseason -- with the ultimate explanation being that the club is collecting short-term, low-dollar contracts with an emphasis on building roster depth.

So Friday's signing of 34-year-old right-handed reliever Luis Ayala fits that initial description -- Ayala had a 2.09 ERA in 52 games with the New York Yankees last season. And he'll cost $825,000 in 2012 with a $1 million team option ($100,000 buyout) for 2013.

Advertisement

Seems like another low-risk, solid reward transaction. Nothing too sexy; nothing too awful -- pretty much the assessment for most, if not all, of Duquette's additions since he took over in November.

What is the real head-scratcher here is what the Orioles' next move is going to be to make room for Ayala in the bullpen. (Not sure exactly what the Orioles will do to make room for him on the 40-man roster, but Josh Bell seemingly has been on the roster bubble for two months).

Advertisement
Advertisement

With Ayala -- who is most effective for one inning, two tops -- the Orioles now have five short-relief right-handers on the roster. And that doesn't include Alfredo Simon, who closed some in 2010.

Jim Johnson, who converted nine straight save opportunities to end last season, is the expected 2012 closer, though he still could go to the rotation.

Kevin Gregg was the primary closer in 2011 but lost his job to Johnson. He is owed $5.8 million for 2012; the Orioles willingly would eat a chunk of that contract in a trade.

Matt Lindstrom was picked up this week in the Jeremy Guthrie deal, and Duquette mentioned him as a guy who would pitch late in games along with Johnson.

Advertisement

Then there's Pedro Strop, whom the Orioles received from the Texas Rangers on Sept. 1 as part of the Mike Gonzalez deal. He allowed just one run in 12 games in the season's final month and looked like a potential closer-in-waiting. He is out of minor league options, though.

It's possible the Ayala signing was made as a precursor to a trade -- maybe the unloading of Gregg. Or for the rotation move for Johnson, which would alleviate some bullpen crunch yet further muddy the starting waters.

It's also possible that all five could be ticketed for the Opening Day bullpen, which would really make that alignment interesting. Especially if the starters struggle to go deep in games as they did in 2011.

Again, there is nothing wrong with depth. And injuries and trades can occur in the spring.

But, in the past five days, the Orioles have traded their ace and now have five of a kind in the bullpen.

Recommended on Baltimore Sun

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement