The Orioles officially announced their third bullpen addition Thursday afternoon, signing right-hander Chad Bradford to anundisclosed contract, reportedly worth nearly $10 million over three seasons.
Bradford joins right-hander Danys Baez and left-hander Jamie Walker in an upgraded bullpen.
“I think it came down to how interested and aggressive they were in their talks with me,” Bradford said after passing a physical. “It just felt like they were going in the right direction. It felt like it was the right fit.”
Bradford, 32, is a submarine specialist. He appeared in 70 games for the Mets in 2006, going 4-2 with two saves and a 2.90 ERA.
The Orioles also agreed on a deal with Scott Williamson, a right-handed reliever. Williamson, 30, was 2-4 with a 5.72 ERA in 42 games with the Cubs and Padres last season.
“Depth in the bullpen is something we haven?t had in some time,” executive vice president Mike Flanagan said.
MULDER A POSSIBILITY: Flanagan noted that going after a front-line starting pitcher isn?t likely, but the club didn?t rule out the possibility of adding a bargain to the rotation.
One name that came up Thursday was Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder. The 29-year-old is coming off an injury, having appeared in just 17 games with St. Louis last season.
“I think this is a place where he?d like to come and he would fit what we?re trying to do,” vice president Jim Duquette said.
It?s likely that Mulder would accept a one-year contract, and the Orioles have been in contact with his agent. Reports out of Arizona have linked Mulder to the Diamondbacks.
CAMDEN TO GET FACELIFT: There will be no major alterations to Oriole Park at Camden Yards this offseason, but some cosmetic changes will be made prior to the ballpark?s 16th opening day in 2007.
The team will re-surface the warning track and will replace the padding around the inner wall in foul territory. The new padding will look like brick, creating the effect the team had hoped to implement when it added a brick wall in foul territory prior to the 2005 season. Shortly thereafter, the wall was covered with padding to prevent injury.
The new faux-brick padding will match the brick on the B&O Warehouse.
