O's and Uehara agree to deal

[Frobby]

I'm still trying to figure out how the FO was able to get this done being in such disarray.

Hey bigbird did say his guy thought we'd sign a pitcher before the end of the week.

[Osfan13]

Uehara's projection as a reliever here.

Next season: 50 IP, 49 H, 11 BB, 47 K, 5 HR, 3.42 ERA, 3.28 fielding independent ERA

According to his peripherals, this projection makes him look like Joakim Soria with better control... obviously it's hard to say how this translates into a starting pitcher.

We could end up with him as our closer and move Ray and Johnson to set up. Sherrill could return to being a left-handed specialist, dealt, or provide insurance in case Jamie Walker is again ineffective.

Again, I hope that Uehara sticks to the starting rotation, but a guy who was last year struggling to remain a starting pitcher in Japan should not be penciled into a Major League rotation. He is a great signing and he will give us quality outs, but I dunno if those outs will be recorded as a starter or not.

[JTrea81]

We could end up with him as our closer and move Ray and Johnson to set up. Sherrill could return to being a left-handed specialist, dealt, or provide insurance in case Jamie Walker is again ineffective.

Again, I hope that Uehara sticks to the starting rotation, but a guy who was last year struggling to remain a starting pitcher in Japan should not be penciled into a Major League rotation. He is a great signing and he will give us quality outs, but I dunno if those outs will be recorded as a starter or not.

He was banished from the rotation supposedly because he spoke out about wanting to pitch in MLB, and I think he kind of dogged it a little on his conditioning because he wasn't happy being a reliever.

There is thought that he will give a much better effort in staying in shape to play for a ML squad. He'll be well motivated...

[TheBee]

Hey bigbird did say his guy thought we'd sign a pitcher before the end of the week.

And to be fair he also made references to the Japanese pitchers and the O's being in substantive talks back in the middle of December. That obviously looks like it was true.

Regardless, I am glad they got this done.

[UMDTerrapins]

Has there been any word on the salary?

[ugen64]

We could end up with him as our closer and move Ray and Johnson to set up. Sherrill could return to being a left-handed specialist, dealt, or provide insurance in case Jamie Walker is again ineffective.

Again, I hope that Uehara sticks to the starting rotation, but a guy who was last year struggling to remain a starting pitcher in Japan should not be penciled into a Major League rotation. He is a great signing and he will give us quality outs, but I dunno if those outs will be recorded as a starter or not.

I doubt they will put Uehara in the bullpen. For one thing, we have 3 late inning relievers already - what we don't have are 5 starters. So if we wanted to use Uehara as a reliever, we would probably end up converting Jim Johnson back to a starter or something - and I don't think Trembley wants to do that.

[mweb]

Could be a very good move depending on the salary. I've had a desire for the O's to land both Japanese pitchers since the beginning, so hopefully I'm not accused of being a homer here.

I also find it funny that some are bashing the idea of signing a 34 year old pitcher to a two year deal, it's just two years(if that's true) guys, relax.

The guy has the potential to be a very effective starter for us, and the control is a huge plus for this franchise. It's much better than getting a guy like Redding or Byrd imo.

[Frobby]

He was banished from the rotation supposedly because he spoke out about wanting to pitch in MLB, and I think he kind of dogged it a little on his conditioning because he wasn't happy being a reliever.

There is thought that he will give a much better effort in staying in shape to play for a ML squad. He'll be well motivated...

Let's hope these reports are accurate. Remember, we're not going into this blindly. We actually had John Stockstill over there a good bit of time personally scouting Japanese players.

The way I see it, Uehara will be a starter for the first half of the season almost no matter what. If he falters in that role, hopefully the time will be ripe to bring up one of our minor league prospects.

[Osfan13]

It would kind of make sense to sign the Japanese catcher and start the season with him and Moeller. Then you promote Wieters mid-season.

Plus pick up Kawakami for 2 years.

I wonder how the catcher from Japan (name?) is compared to Johjima the catcher from Seattle. I have read that the Mariners soured on him as he was very stubborn at adjusting his game calling to the Major Leagues. Were the Orioles to sign him, if he would succumb to a similar fate?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6458

[Shopay]

Hey bigbird did say his guy thought we'd sign a pitcher before the end of the week.

Yes he did. However, being able to sign a pitcher and being in disarray are arguably mutually exclusive.

Based on Roch's comment in his blog today regarding the FO (see below), I suspect he may agree. The highlighted portion of his response is very interesting and telling, IMO.

Question: Roch, have you heard anything about chaos or dysfunction in the Warehouse? I get the feeling that McPhail is a very poor communicator and low on organizational skills creating a lot of angst and hand wringing by people working in the front office.People are throwig their hands up in disgust over how slow he is at doing anything.

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Roch's Response: I wouldn't describe it as chaos or dysfunction, but the inner-circle is pretty small. Not a lot of people in the warehouse know his business. They're on a need-to-know basis, if you will. And of course, that isn't going to sit well with everybody. - Roch

[ugen64]

I wonder how the catcher from Japan (name?) is compared to Johjima the catcher from Seattle. I have read that the Mariners soured on him as he was very stubborn at adjusting his game calling to the Major Leagues. Were the Orioles to sign him, if he would succumb to a similar fate?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6458

The Mariners soured on Johjima? They gave him a multi-year deal for $5 million a year just last season...

[YaBoyTopher]

I wonder how the catcher from Japan (name?) is compared to Johjima the catcher from Seattle. I have read that the Mariners soured on him as he was very stubborn at adjusting his game calling to the Major Leagues. Were the Orioles to sign him, if he would succumb to a similar fate?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6458

Aikawa does not have the talent of Johjima, but I doubt Stubbornness would be an issue with him. My problem with Aikawa is I have serious doubts he would bat much over 200.

[O's are Legends]

I wonder if he will stick in the rotation or end up in the bullpen. He is a big control guy, but has had trouble staying in healthy.

I also wonder if Kawakami will be more inclined to join the team now.

Yes, I really hope the O's will be able to sign Kenshin Kawakami as well.

[Shopay]

Has there been any word on the salary?

Not yet, other than mulitple years. Something tells me two years with an option for a third.

[ugen64]

Very possible that in 2010 Uehara's contract will be one that we want moved just like we want Mora, Walker, Baez, and Gibbons off for 2010.

If we aren't going to contend, the thought it, why tie up money in average to slightly above average players who aren't part of our future when we aren't going to be contending?

Although the Japanese factor is a huge plus, that can't be denied.

For one thing, I don't want Mora's contract off for next season.

For another thing, signing Walker and Baez to those multi-year deals was a bad idea to begin with. For a rebuilding team, the bullpen is pretty much your last priority - if you have holes, just stick a few minor league journeymen and failed starters in there. But the fact is, we have a gaping hole in the rotation and it's very unlikely that we'll have 4 starters better than Uehara emerge next season, or in 2010 for that matter.