The Baltimore Orioles signed potential closer and Type A free agent Mike Gonzalez to a two-year contract Wednesday, according to Yahoo!‘s Tim Brown:
Orioles Ink Reliever Mike Gonzalez
Mike Gonzalez has agreed to a two-year, $12-million contract with O's. Incentives could bring worth to $16 million over two years.
It’s undecided whether Gonzalez will be the Orioles’ closer or not. Gonzalez owns a career 2.57 ERA in 302 games coming out of the bullpen. He saved 10 games for the Atlanta Braves last year while holding batters to a .209 batting average.
...Gonzalez -- who spent last season with the Atlanta Braves -- will have to pass a physical before the deal is complete. He's scheduled to take a physical in Baltimore within the next couple of days. The signing of Gonzalez, who is a Type A free agent, will cost the Orioles their second-round pick in the 2010 draft.
It's also unclear if the Orioles view Gonzalez as their full-time closer or whether he'll be part of a closer-by-committee approach that includes right-handed relievers Jim Johnson and Koji Uehara.
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