Orioles rumors: Baltimore interested in Koji Uehara

The Baltimore Orioles may be interested in bringing right-handed reliever Koji Uehara back to Camden Yards next season, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun:

Despite it being the club’s primary strength last season, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has not ruled out the possibility of improving his bullpen – and one consideration is a reunion with popular former Oriole right-hander Koji Uehara…

Although he doesn’t like to talk about specific free agents, Duquette said about Uehara: "He’s on our list, we like him. He’s been here before."

The 37-year-old Uehara began his time in the MLB with the Orioles, pitching with the club from 2009-2011 before he was traded to the Rangers midseason in exchange for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter.

The right-hander compiled a stellar 3.03 ERA and 6.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his two plus seasons with Baltimore, and only got better when he moved to Arlington. Uehara posted a 2.50 earned-run average and an otherworldly 16.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 59 appearances with the Rangers.

The Rangers have the right-hander under team control for the next two seasons, so the Orioles would have to work out a trade with Texas to bring him back.

In addition to Uehara, the Orioles have shown interest in several other relievers. The club met with Japanese right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa recently, and has also shown interest in former Brewers righty Kameron Loe.