7:02pm: The two year deal is for $10MM with incentives. Says Connolly:
"His contract could be worth as much as $16 million over two years if the eight-time Japanese all-star meets certain performance bonuses and escalating clauses such as starts made and innings pitched. There is also a games-finished clause included for Uehara, who was an all-star closer in 2007 for the Yomiuri Giants, but the Orioles view him almost exclusively as a starter."
6:24pm: The contract is a two year deal. It is hinging on "specific contractual language" and a physical later this week, reports MLB.com.
2:00pm: According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles signed pitcher Koji Uehara to a multiyear deal (pending some contract language and a physical). Uehara, 34, is the team’s first Japanese player. The O’s will use Uehara as a starter and continue to pursue Braden Looper, Tim Redding, and Kenshin Kawakami.
ESPN’s Keith Law ranked Uehara 22nd on his free agent list. His bottom line:
In an ideal environment — National League, non-hitters’ park — he could be a midrotation innings-eater because he’ll allow so few baserunners. In the American League, he’d be more of a fourth starter, but would have to have some luck keeping the ball in the park to keep his ERA under 4.00.
