The Orioles have signed righty Logan Ondrusek to a major league deal, per a club announcement. Fellow right-hander Chaz Roe has been designated for assignment to clear roster space.
[Related: Updated Orioles Depth Chart]
Ondrusek, 31, hasn’t appeared in the big leagues — or, indeed, in North America — since 2014. But he has been pitching quite well in Japan for the Yakult Swallows. Over his 99 2/3 frames on the year in Japan’s NPB, Ondrusek has pitched to a 2.17 ERA with 8.2 K/9 against 3.0 BB/9.
Ondrusek previously enjoyed a solid, if uneven, run with the Reds from 2010 through 2014. He ran up a 3.34 ERA over his first two full seasons in the majors, then dropped off to a 4.69 earned run mark over his final two campaigns. Oddly, though, Ondrusek’s peripherals actually improved quite a bit over 2013-14, as he averaged an improved 8.9 K/9 while dropping his walk rate to 3.0 BB/9.
As for Roe, 29, he’ll enter DFA limbo after throwing 9 2/3 frames for the big league club this season. He has allowed four earned runs in his nine appearances, striking out 11 but also walking seven batters. In 75 1/3 innings over parts of four campaigns, Roe owns a 4.18 ERA with 9.2 K/9 against 4.8 BB/9.
Interesting pick up to say the least will be interesting to see if they use him in the rotation or bullpen
Also interesting in that guys who are playing in Japan or Korea usually aren’t let out of their contracts mid-season unless they are released for poor performance. I would imagine, purely as a guess, that the Orioles had to pay the Swallows some money to get him since he is having an excellent year.
Sounds like he was released because of behavioral issues
Seeing as he hasn’t started a game since 2008, I’m going with the bullpen!
He actually started one game in 2014 in the Triple-A, but not that it really matters since he only pitched one inning.
Sorry, I didn’t bother to include the one 1-inning start he’s had in the last 8 seasons, lol. Thanks for pointing it out.
If I’m the Orioles, I would try anything to help out their ugly ERA and pitching woes. This is great move where only money is involved and the bar is set low for him to succeed.
First you said he had a solid run then an inconsistent one. Which one is it?
Typical Orioles move. Nothing to see here.