The Baltimore Orioles signed 35 year old LHP Jamie Walker for their bullpen.

Walker: 0-1, 2.81 ERA, 48 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 6.94 K/9

Cost: 3 years/$12 million

Grade: B

Walker was probably the best left handed reliever on the market and the Orioles signed him quickly. We might have overpaid a little, but just under $4 million a year for 3 years isn’t too bad. The bullpen was terrible last year and the Front Office is getting to work early on trying to fix it. Walker is a step in the right direction, but we need more if we want to improve our bullpen enough. There are plenty of targets available and the Orioles are rumored to be in negotiations with many more relievers. We can also go the trade route with Rodrigo Lopez and/or Kris Benson. I like the aggressiveness and I hope we keep it up.

The Orioles signed 1B/DH Josh Phelps, 1B/3B Terry Tiffee, C J.R. House, OF Luis Montanez, 1B Brandon Sing, OF Ruddy Yan, SS Cesar Crespo, RP Jose Acevedo, RP Jon Leicester, RP Cory Doyne, RP Oscar Alvarez, RP Steve Green, RP Victor Moreno, SS Eider Lopez, and 3B Michael Cervenak to minor league contracts.

Grade: A

Its not that any of these players are going to make a major contribution to the Orioles next year, but the fact that we were quick to sign players that could have an impact for us. Instead of waiting and waiting and not getting anything that could help out even in emergency situations, we went out and signed some players with MLB experience (Phelps, Tiffee, House, Crespo, Acevedo), players past success in the minors (Sing), and players that were once promising prospects (Montanez, House). These are players that could step in for an injured player without losing as much of a step as an Eddy Rodriguez in left field would. House should compete for the back up catcher duty or a bench spot. Phelps could win a platoon or bench spot. Montanez and Tiffee could earn call ups at one point or another during the year. But mostly, its that these signings give our AA and AAA teams some depth and quality players. It shows a great step in the right direction.