Duchscherer Done in Baltimore

The once-promising Justin Duchscherer is done in Baltimore. Signed in January but never appearing in a game, the oft-injured* right-hander is seeking yet another surgery in hopes to pitch again.

Justin duchscherer will have hip surgery thursday with hopes of continuing his career. It just won't b w #orioles

Dan Connolly | Baltimore Sun | @danconnollysun

This passage by Orioles beat reporter Britt Ghiroli says essentially everything we'll ever need to know about Duke, sad as it is:

The oft-injured Duchscherer was signed to a one-year contract by Baltimore this winter worth up maximum of $4.5 million if he stayed healthy. Instead, he never made it out of Spring Training as Duchscherer dealt with left hip issues stemming from the surgery he underwent last April after pitching in just five games for the Oakland Athletics.

Duchscherer missed the entire 2009 season because of an elbow injury and clinical depression and is 33-25 with a 3.13 ERA over eight seasons with the Texas Rangers and A’s.

 Even though it didn't work out for Baltimore, it was still worth a shot, says Stacey Long of Camden Chat (via email interview):

It was worth the risk to sign Duchscherer, it was only $700K and he's proven that when healthy he can pitch. Even when they don't work out, pick ups like that are better investments than two-year contracts for Kevin Gregg, for example.

*How many injuries are required to earn the wonderfully idiomatic "oft-?" My gut says "two season-enders and at least three DL trips," but my gut also says "saltines + peanut butter + cheese + tabasco = good idea."  What do you think?