The Orioles have added the veteran starting pitcher they were seeking this offseason, agreeing to terms Sunday night with right-hander Justin Duchscherer on a one-year, major-league contract pending a physical.
Duchscherer, 33, chose the Orioles over the Washington Nationals and the Seattle Mariners, partially because he wanted to be close to his son in southern New Jersey and also because the Orioles will allow him to compete for a spot in their rotation and won't be using him as a reliever, a role he held for much of his eight seasons in the majors.
He will make $700,000 in a base contract that will increase to $1.1 million whenever he is put on the 25-man roster (that will be pro-rated if it is later than Opening Day). He has incentives based on games started that will continue to build and eventually would bring his salary to $4.5 million if he makes 30 starts in 2011. He also has a standard awards bonus package which includes an additional $100,000 if he is named Comeback Player of the Year. His physical will be either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Known as a control artist who can throw several pitches for strikes, Duchscherer is attempting to come back from hip surgery after making just five starts in 2010. He also missed all of 2009 after an elbow injury and a subsequent bout with clinical depression.
When Duchscherer is healthy, however, he can be extremely effective. A two-time all star for the Oakland A's, he is 33-25 with a 3.13 ERA and nearly a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 224 big-league games. As a starter, he is 14-11 with a 3.01 ERA in 32 games, all with Oakland.
Duchscherer was supposed to hold an open workout for teams on Tuesday, but after having an Orioles scout watch him throw about 50 pitches during a private side session in Phoenix on Friday, the club decided to sign him.
At Saturday's FanFest celebration, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said: "We saw Justin throw and we're pleased how well he's come along at this point," MacPhail does not comment on free-agent acquisitions until the signing is official.
Duchscherer will likely join a rotation that likely includes Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta. Chris Tillman is also a possibility.
Signing a starter was the Orioles' last major goal this offseason, though they are still looking for a second left-hander in the bullpen, which will likely come via a minor-league deal. And they are still in negotiations with designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero.
When the Duchscherer acquisition becomes official, the Orioles will be at their 40-man roster limit. However, they could always designate someone for assignment if they add another player, such as Guerrero, to a major-league contract.
A physical has not been set for Duchscherer, but is always a requirement for new Orioles' acquisitions – and will be particularly important in Duchscherer's case.
He had his best season in 2008, when he made the All-Star game and went 10-8 with a 2.89 ERA in 22 starts. He went on the disabled list twice that season, which ended in August due to a right hip injury which required surgery. He also missed four months of the 2007 season due to right hip surgery.
He injured his elbow in the 2009 season and while rehabbing that injury, was overwhelmed by feelings of depression and was shut down to deal with those issues. He battled back in 2010, but made just five starts before hitting the disabled list again with a left hip injury. He had surgery on that one in June.
Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 1996 amateur draft, Duchscherer was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2001 for catcher Doug Mirabelli. He pitched in five games, two starts, with the Rangers that year and then was dealt to the A's the following spring for pitcher Luis Vizcaino.
dan.connolly@baltsun.com