The Rangers are discussing reliever Koji Uehara with several teams, one of whom are the Blue Jays, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The Red Sox and Orioles were both involved in talks regarding Uehara earlier this winter, with Uehara himself saying he wished to return to Baltimore.
Uehara posted a 2.35 ERA, an 11.8 K/9 rate and a phenomenal 9.44 K/BB ratio in 65 games last season with the Orioles and Rangers. Despite his great regular season numbers, he struggled for Texas in the playoffs and was left off the Rangers' World Series roster, leading to speculation that he would be made available by the team in the offseason.
Uehara, who turns 37 in April, pitched well enough to cause his $4MM option for 2012 to vest. He also has a limited no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to block deals to six teams, so Uehara has some control over where he would be dealt, if anywhere.
The Jays have already added Sergio Santos, Darren Oliver, Jason Frasor and Aaron Laffey to their bullpen this winter. In Uehara, Toronto would add to this depth with a right-hander who has enjoyed success in the AL East and some experience (13-of-15 in save opportunities with the O's in 2010) as a closer should Santos struggle.
Hopefully the O’s have enough sense to bring him back.
Maybe the O’s will give us the broken Chris Davis back.
Nah, we’d rather trade him. He obviously wasn’t happy in Texas last year and missed his apartment in Baltimore… so we’ll just trade him to Arizona, just for being a whiny player.
I hope the Yankees call JD tonight.
I hope they don’t.
Koji for Banuelos and Betances or we walk.
throw in pineda to make it even
lol you left out Cano and Robertson
We’ll just settle for Sabathia instead, but only if the Yankees pick up 3/4s of his contract.
buy high, sell low. works every time
Any team that won’t contend this year should be really happy with his performance. Ask the O’s fans.
Oh, and the Rangers fans.
Yeah I’ll bet Koji isn’t going anywhere. Texas won’t trade him unless they get as much as, or more than, they gave up last year. And let’s face it, his value went down a bit after his last moth or so last season. I think Texas should keep him. Give him time to adjust to pitching in Texas and he’ll be a great piece.
Koji pitching in the summer Texas heat? I don’t think so.
I bet you’ve never been here.
such a myth about him being unable to pitch in the heat. you have no idea what you’re talking about.
What proof do you have that he can’t do it? I’ll wait.
When he was on the O’s he barely lasted 4 innings in a start a few years ago in Texas.
that might be a valuable piece of information if anyone was asking him to pitch 4 innings anymore.
It’s funny that all of our starters were highly successful pitching in the heat. It takes some getting use to, but it’s doable.
I would love to see Koji back in Baltimore but I dont see it happening
Let Koji go back to B’more where there’s no pressure on him to pitch well. That way he’ll be happy.
funny, all the talk about statistical analysis on this site yet koji’s bad luck in 2 months with the rangers makes people want to run him out of town…
Bad luck? I loved it when we got Koji, but he held his own pity party after he left Baltimore. I don’t want a player on my team that is going to sit around and feel sorry for himself instead of being focused on helping his team win.
what you said about his reaction to being traded is true but statistically he wasnt much different in texas than he was here other than a few more balls going over the fence.
Rangers maybe trying to free up money for Fielder…
They already have the money. Koji’s contract wouldn’t put a dent in Fielder’s salary.
The Orioles already sent over 2 mill to pay for half his contract this year when they made the trade last season. So, that leaves 2 mill to free up…in the scheme of things, that is small especially if you get a MLB ready player in return which will command some salary.
Oh Boy, Uehara might be coming back to Baltimore! It’s sort of like when “The Rock” finally has come back to (Insert Town Name Here). If the O’s get him back, Duquette will probable spin it as some sort of Angelos Propaganda, saying the owner missed Koji and wanted him back. Angelos never understood why MacPhail traded Koji in the first place. Angelos then will also admit that he really doesn’t know who Koji is/was except that he signed his check every week and just was repeating what Duquette told him to say. Also to deflect the fact the Angels probable will sign Cordero and Red Sox signed Cody Ross.
who gives a damn about cordero or ross and what does either have to do with koji possibly going back to the os? get a freaking grip.
he just likes to hear himself talk
If Uehara wants to go, then deal him, for something good, i doubt Baltimore has something good to offer. maybe a three team deal involving Baltimore, Texas and Toronto, maybe ueahara pin balling from Texas to Toronto to Baltimore and prospects to Texas or good Toronto players.
Ohhhh so what you’re saying is the Orioles don’t have any players good enough for the Rangers but Toronto will take those players for the privilege to send good players to Texas? Sure makes sense
Baltimore actually has alot of good players.
I hope you’re being sarcastic
They have alot of good, not great players. Jones, Weiters, Hardy, and Markakis. They have a Reynolds who hit 37 homers.
Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter for Uehara
Good Toronto players? Bautista and Lawrie for Uehara
i can see the Rangers freeing up money, by trading Murphy and Uehara. Saves 8 million and than making a push for Oswalt.
Yeah I could see that too since we currently have only 7 starters. Gotta make it to 10 before ST for a full rotation!
Oswalt? i think he was seen more of a “in case darvish doesn’t sign”
I seriously doubt Oswalt tries to rebuild value in a hitters park, even if it does mean facing oakland and seattles offense
Oswalt is from Texas so it wouldn’t completely surprise me if he wanted to come here. Either way, we just don’t have a “need” for him.
EDIT: Nevermind, not from Texas. I was mistaken.
Roy Oswalt is from Mississippi.
His ideal situations would probably be Atlanta or St. Louis.
he’s not from texas. I think he’s from Mississippi.
My mistake, I guess I had someone else in my mind.
Must’ve been that pesky Brad Hawpe.
Come on back Koji.
Remember there is nothing to do in Canada
Are you kidding? You go hang out at the hospital… for free!
Also we have Tim Hortons and the Hockey Hall of Fame!
Luckily the Jays don’t play in Saskatoon… eh?
Saskatoon looks like Vegas compared to Moosejaw
Uehara be a good fit for the Cardinals. Cards are looking for a RHP relief pitcher he would be a very good choice
I agree. Kozma and Anderson for Koji and 2mil, maybe?
Seems like a pretty decent deal to me. Kozma and Anderson really have no future in St Louis imo being that the Cardinals have Tyler Greene and Ryan Jackson as potential SS and Tony Cruz, Steven Hill and Robert Stock for C
Well that wouldnt be Uehara then considering he is a LHP
No, he’s a righty…
He was implying that Koji is better at getting lefties out than righties.
Koji for Mathis!!! Mathis has breakout year and hits .200!!!
Rangers owe the jays one back for sure
As a Ranger fan I sure hope they trade him. He choked in the spotlight.
You’re not even giving him time. He was adjusting to new teammates, coaches, ballpark, fans, oh and I’m pretty sure his family is in Baltimore.
This is one of the few Jon Daniels trades that didn’t pan out. Uehara just isn’t a good fit in Texas, better trade him and free up some cap space before he gives up a ton of homeruns during the year
Or we can give him more than a handful of appearances before we call for his head. He wasn’t even that bad for us last year. His ERA was in the mid-2’s after the trade I believe.
I agree that he should be giving a few chances to prove himself before they trade him. If he does well than keep him if not then trade him for a left handed reliever. We need at least one lefty
‘ Rangers send Uehara to Jays to Complete Napoli deal ‘
AA did not get the right return on Napoli’s trade. He should not do the same mistake again giving up good prospects or players for a 37 years old diminising asset.
Come home Koji. Baltimore loves you.
Koji And Markakis were my favorite Orioles last season, would love to see him back. He would have some company this year too in Wada and Chen
I smell another Mike Napoli trade on the way. We love dealing with Toronto!!