Orioles Sign Uehara
The Baltimore Orioles have signed Koji Uehara to a two-year, $10 million dollar deal. Uehara, 34, was a closer last season for the Yomiuri Giants, but the right-hander will likely start for the Birds.
The indications are that he might have the goods for this franchise. He’s struck out more than 1,000 hitters over his career, and has just 206 walks. He had problems with his hamstring in 2008, but finshed with a 6-5 record and a 3.81 ERA, which serves as an immediate antidote for the memories of Daniel Cabrera over the last two seasons.
On an interesting note, Uehara is the first Japanese player to play for the Orioles, a fact not lost by Dan Connolly in this morning’s Sun story.
Uehara, who turns 34 in April, will become the first Japan native to play for the Orioles, the last team in the American League East to tap into the Asian market.
It’s pretty meaningful that the organization has never considered talent from Asia, especially when the team has been this bad for so long and doesn’t chase big name free agents.
 |  |
