O's Close In On Walker

[love_that_reefer]

The Orioles are close to signing Jamie Walker, perhaps the top left-handed reliever on the free-agent market, FOXSports.com has learned.

The three-year deal, expected to be worth at least $10 million, would be a blow to the American League champion Tigers, who used Walker as their principal left-handed specialist.

Walker, 35, has spent the past five seasons with the Tigers, posting a 3.33 ERA. In 56 games last season his ERA was 2.81. He held opponents to a .282 on-base percentage.

The Tigers, who have been trying to re-sign Walker, would need to replace him with another left-hander. The Astros also have been among the teams interested in Walker.

For the Orioles, the addition of Walker would mark a significant first step in the reconstruction of their bullpen in front of closer Chris Ray.

The Orioles last week traded right-handed reliever Chris Britton to the Yankees for right-handed starter Jaret Wright.

Good to hear the Orioles addressing thier bullpen.

[realmofotalk]

Cripes, Jamie Walker is 35 already?

[McKain]

Too bad their bullpen should be the least of their worries and a 35 year old reliever should be their lowest priority.

They're an awful franchise right now, it's embarrassing how they are being run.

[love_that_reefer]

Pitching helps especially in this division. Walker is good and will be good at setting up Ray. Now they need to get someone to hit around Tejada, Mora, Markakis and Hernandez. Forget about Millar and Patterson.

[McKain]

Relievers don't help when the team has no rotation.

[love_that_reefer]

I agree but no big name FA pitchers are going to be signed for awhile IMO. They did "help" the rotation by getting Wright but mostly by taking Lopez out. Mazzone still can work some magic with Cabrera and Bedard.

[love_that_reefer]

Plus the O's had the second worst bullpen ERA in all of baseball.

[ThomasTomasz]

Good signing. The Orioles have struggled for quite awhile to find someone that is experienced at getting left-handed bats out, and they finally found that guy in Walker. He isn't like Steve Kline, coming over from the NL. Instead, Walker is coming from the AL champions, the Tigers, and has experience playing in a division stacked with pitching. Against guys like Ortiz, Giambi, and Matsui, the Orioles now have a guy pitcher can neutralize them.

I expect the Orioles to add at least one more starter, probably either Ted Lilly or Gil Meche. That would leave a rotation of Bedard, Cabrera, Benson, Wright, and one of those guys. Maybe even ignore those two, and let Adam Loewen pitch. Personally, that is what I would do. Focus on improving the bullpen.