The Baltimore Orioles and closer Grant Balfour have been circling each other for a while and after news came out that the two sides had an agreement on a contract, it appears that it has fallen apart due to a shoulder issue and now the team could look elsewhere, including at free agent Fernando Rodney as closer.
According to ESPN.com, the team had concerns about Balfour after taking his physical and now the team may end up not signing him or trying to work out a different deal. As the ESPN.com report notes, the Red Sox and Mike Napoli also had a similar issue come up and the two sides later agreed on a shorter term deal and that is what could play out here.
The Orioles were prepared to introduce Balfour in a press conference on Friday, but now that has been pushed and there still is a chance the team could sign him. The original deal was for a two year contract worth $14 million and now the two sides will try and figure out a resolution. Balfour was one of the best closers in baseball last season, going 1-3 with a 2.59 ERA and 38 saves and if he signs, he would complete the switch of closers from Oakland to Baltimore, as Jim Johnson was traded to the Athletics this offseason.
In other news from the team, Baltimore Orioles pitcher Troy Patton was suspended for using an undisclosed amphetamine, check out more from Reuters.com:
Orioles pitcher Troy Patton was suspended 25 games after testing positive for an undisclosed amphetamine, Major League Baseball (MLB) said on Friday.
The 28-year-old lefthander, a one-inning reliever in the middle of a bullpen, went 2-0 with a 3.70 earned-run average (ERA) in 56 games last season.
Patton, who broke into the majors in 2007 with the Houston Astros, has compiled a 5-1 record and 3.04 ERA since getting his first action with Baltimore in 2010.
The suspension will be effective from the start of the 2014 regular season, MLB said in a statement. (Reuters)
