Orioles Agree To Sign Justin Duchscherer

[Leftwich]

The Orioles and Justin Duchscherer have agreed to a one-year deal that could be worth as much as $4.5MM in salary and incentives according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reports that Duchscherer gets $700K guaranteed, but his base salary will jump to $1.1MM when he makes the roster (Twitter links). To get the full $4.5MM, he'll have to make 30 starts.

Earlier today we heard that just a handful of clubs were in on the Duke of Hurl, and it eventually came down to beltway neighbors Baltimore and Washington. The contract is still pending a physical, which MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli says will be performed on Monday (on Twitter). Duchscherer is represented by Lapa/Leventhal.

The 33-year-old right-hander made just five starts for the Athletics last year, pitching to a 2.89 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 28 innings. He had surgery on his hip, and has also battled elbow issues and depression in recent years. Duchscherer has a ton of experience as both a starter (3.01 ERA in 194 1/3 IP) and a reliever (3.22 ERA in 260 1/3 IP), but he recently said he'd like to remain in the rotation. He's never come close to making the 30 starts needed to max out his contract, topping out at 22 starts in 2008.

Duchscherer showcased his stuff at a workout on Friday, and was set for an encore performance on Tuesday, but that obviously won't be necessary. The O's have been looking for a veteran starter to slot in behind Jeremy Guthrie and in front of their younger arms, which Duke should be able to do as long as he's healthy.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/01/orioles-agree-to-sign-justin-duchscherer.html

I know he's not the best pitcher out there but he is a definite upgrade over Milwood. Hopefully he can have a good year.

 

[Rudi]

The Orioles are a team that interests me this year. They've made a ton of changes this off-season to the offense adding a lot of guys who have had big years in the past. I think they will have a great O, but the pitching staff is real iffy.

 

[guchi45]

He's a fucking douche.

 

[Leftwich]

The Orioles are a team that interests me this year. They've made a ton of changes this off-season to the offense adding a lot of guys who have had big years in the past. I think they will have a great O, but the pitching staff is real iffy.

Can we have Homer Bailey? Your long lost brother.

 

[Bmore]

I think we still should have kept Milwood around.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Can we have Homer Bailey? Your long lost brother.

Breakout pitcher in MLB this season.

 

[MvP]

Homer Bailey was supposed to break out five years ago.

 

[Justo]

i like this pickup, as long as he can stay off the DL i'm sure he can eat some innings for us

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Homer Bailey was supposed to break out five years ago.

When he was 19?

Bailey was rushed up to the majors when the Reds were trying to sell tickets at the end of one of their miserable Griffey seasons. He's 23 years old and averaged a K per inning last year. He had a 5.51 ERA before going on the DL to correct a shoulder issue that went undetected, and came back to finish up the year 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA when healthy.

I'll accept the bump in September if i'm wrong, but all signs point to Bailey having a good year.

 

[NAHSTE]

How the hell is Ducscherer already 33? Seems like he just hit the scene two years ago.

 

[MvP]

When he was 19?

Bailey was rushed up to the majors when the Reds were trying to sell tickets at the end of one of their miserable Griffey seasons. He's 23 years old and averaged a K per inning last year. He had a 5.51 ERA before going on the DL to correct a shoulder issue that went undetected, and came back to finish up the year 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA when healthy.

I'll accept the bump in September if i'm wrong, but all signs point to Bailey having a good year.

I used to post on a couple baseball forums back when Bailey was a top prospect and I don't think I've ever seen a player more hyped up on a forum than him (and Mike Pelfrey). I'm also just bitter because for the past two years I've scooped him up in my fantasy league expecting him to break out and it never happened. :shifty: