FRIDAY: The Orioles officially announced the deal (on Twitter).
TUESDAY: The Orioles will sign free agent left-hander Randy Wolf, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The Brewers released the veteran starter last week.
Wolf, a Wasserman Media Group client, led the National League in hits and earned runs this year, the final season of his three-year, $29.75MM contract with Milwaukee. The 36-year-old started 24 games for the Brewers in 2012, posting a 5.69 ERA with 6.1 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 43.4% ground ball rate in 142 1/3 innings. The Brewers will be responsible for most of Wolf's $9.5MM salary, with the Orioles covering the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum.
MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli first reported that the sides were nearing a deal (on Twitter).
It makes sense, the Orioles had 3 rookies in the rotation before picking up Wolf and Saunders. A team trying to make the playoffs needs veteran pitchers.
I would hope that Wolf is set for AAA duty, only to be called up in the case of a couple of injuries. Rookies or not, the O’s have at least seven starters who are better than Wolf, who led the NL in hits and runs allowed before he was released.
I hope that’s the best-case scenario too, that DD and Buck stash Wolf away in Norfolk as insurance. Lefties are definitely valuable, but on the current roster he’s pretty much org-depth in case any of the other starters suffers an injury between now and the end of the season. Saunders is the lefty whom they want in the rotation, as evidence by them trading away a mid-leverage reliever for his services.
The Baltimore Sun said he’s expected to be on the 25 man roster. He wouldn’t sign with a team to just go to AAA obviously, so he’ll likely be in the rotation.
Or he’ll be a long man/another lefty in the bullpen?
He’s going to pitch out of the bullpen, maybe a spot starter.
Make sense, not really. Also, it’s not exactly giving the people (fans) what they want. I think Duquette should walk around the “Inner Harbor” with an “Orioles Umbrella” on his head and ask all Oriole fans what they would want to see? You can be assured no one would say Randy Wolf, even though he did have a pretty good career, but now it’s over. There was a reason why the Brewers sent Wolf packing.
Oh if you’re wondering, where I got the “Oriole Umbrella” idea, it was inspired by Jay Johnstone’s 1984 Fleer Card. He was wearing a Cubs Umbrella that day.
The last thing in the world I want a major league GM doing is walking around asking the fans what they want him to do.
I like the move. Definitely not sexy, but it provides depth to an unproven rotation and a possible left-handed bullpen arm that is sorely lacking right now with Patton on the DL.
The last thing in the world I’d want to see a major league GM doing is walking around asking the fans what they would like him to do.
I like the move. Not sexy, but it provides depth to an unproven rotation and possibly a left-handed bullpen arm that is sorely needed with Patton on the DL.
They’d say “a team still relevant in September,” which he has given us . . .
Wasn’t Rick Peterson his pitching coach in Milwaukee back when he was effective?
not quite, he was decent his first year (Rick Peterson’s 1 year in Milwaukee), good last year (Rick Kranitz’s first year), and bad this year. Last year Kranitz taught him the cutter which seemed to make all the difference.
Orioles stocking up on lefties in preparation to face the Yankees. The teams have seven games left between them and each game is a 2 game swing in the standings. With both A-Rod and Teixiera missing, Yanks are susceptible to lefties. Orioles are making their stand now. NY, brought in Pearce to combat the possible lefty threat. Should be fun!
Not a lot of people here in Baltimore liked Pearce, but personally I was bummed to see him go. Never actually got caught up on his whole history up to the point that the O’s had grabbed him, but he seemed like a reasonably solid player.
Curious how Wolf will fit into the post-season roster with the glut of starting pitchers they have now.
BTW, “Slopeboy” = Park Slope?
Yep! ‘Garden spot of the Universe’
Good move by he O’s. They need an additional starter to help them make that final push towards the playoffs