The Orioles have agreed to times with free agent pitcher Justin Duchscherer on a one-year contract. The deal, which is still pending a physical, is loaded with performance-based incentives.
The 33-year old right-hander posted a 2.89 ERA in five starts this past season, but posted a 2.54 ERA in 22 starts in 2009, his first full year as a starter. If the "Duch" can stay healthy, he should be a valuable asset to the Orioles starting rotation and young pitchers teetering on the edge of becoming a major leaguer.
However, the Orioles are stuck in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, where every team in the division is constantly trying to one up their rival. It'll be interesting to see if he can find his form in the dangerous AL East.