Earl Weaver Rules

The Orioles signed Japanese left handed starter Tsuyoshi Wada to a two year, $8.15 million deal that also includes a $5 million option for 2014.  Wada had a really nice year in Japan last year (1.53 ERA, 16-5 record with 168 strikeouts in 184 2/3 innings).  He’ll follow in the footsteps of Koji Uehara, who the Orioles were able to sell high at the trade deadline last year.

Wada is a left hander and I like the move. If he can be a solid third or fourth starter, the Orioles should get their money’s worth for a little more then four million a year.  The Orioles continue to develop their international scouting and I like some of these moves they’re making.  It looks like the Orioles have their eyes on Chen Wei-Yin in Taiwan.

The Orioles traded Jarret Martin and Tyler Henson for Dodgers starting pitcher Dana Eveland.  Eveland has bounced around and while he was solid with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, he always seems to have a problem once he’s throwing in the big leagues.

The Orioles will be Eveland’s seventh team and he’s only 28.  Probably the biggest trade he’s been in was the one that sent Dan Haren to the Diamondbacks.  He’ll make $750,000 next year which is solid for a guy who should compete for a spot in the back of the rotation.  With the Orioles still on the outside looking in, they need a few innings eaters while their young talent develops and hopefully Eveland can fill that role.

As far as what they gave up, Henson was a fifth round pick that never really panned out although he’s still only 24.  Martin is a few years away and he looks like he needs to work on his command.  So they didn’t give up any blue chips.