Orioles Sign Walker, Baez

First, a definition, courtesy of Webster.com:

fungible (adj) – being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation

Jamie Walker

Jamie Walker is left-handed, turns 35 in July, will work about 50 innings of slightly above-average production out of the bullpen, and is coming off a career year. Apparently this is worth $12 million for 3 years.

Danys Baez

To complete their set of matching overpriced relievers, the Orioles ponied up $19 million for 3 years of Danys Baez. The 29-year-old right-hander spent 2006 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, compiling a 4.53 ERA over 59 2/3 innings. Prior to that, Baez had pitched, primarily out of the bullpen, for the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The Orioles never cease to fascinate. It must be difficult, psychologically, to try and compete with the virtually limitless resources of the Yankees and Red Sox. You know you have to spend big money to keep up with them. At the same time, if you don’t spend your money wisely, then you aren’t making progress — you’re just putting on a show. Committing more than $6 million a year to a generic middle reliever who once had the good fortune to save 41 games in a season doesn’t qualify as spending money wisely by anyone’s definition.

The early guess here is that at least one of Walker or Baez doesn’t finish the season on Baltimore’s active roster, and that these two signings create more problems than they solve.