10:10pm: Rosenthal tweets that the deal between Ayala and the Orioles is officially complete. In a second tweet, he adds that it's a minor league contract with an invite to big league camp that contains multiple opt-out dates.
10:41am: The Orioles have agreed to a deal with reliever Luis Ayala, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman tweets. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported last night that Ayala had an offer from the Orioles. Ayala is represented by Boston Sports Counsel.
The Nationals released Ayala yesterday. His decision to sign with the Orioles returns him to the team with which he pitched in 2012 and early in 2013, before being traded to the Braves. The 36-year-old posted a 3.27 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 33 big-league innings last year. He has also pitched for the Expos, Nationals, Mets, Marlins, Twins and Yankees in a Major League career spanning parts of nine seasons.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
Ayala is a low strike out, ground ball pitcher. His skill set should combine well with Baltimore’s defense and Camden’s friendly homerun factors. Good signing by the O’s, assuming the year/dollars are reasonable.
They probably got him for less than $2m/y so won’t be a bad contract at all. I think he can do well in Baltimore again. Looking forward to seeing him in the bullpen again. Stinson or McFarland are probably out though.
I think this is probably 800K minor league deal… this guy has been meh for the last few seasons.
He has not pitched a ton of innings but over the last 3 years he has a 3.07 ERA in 164 IP with an fWAR of 1.1, that’s not bad at all. I think he can do better than a standard MiLB deal.
they forgot to put the Twins as part of his teams when pitching in the bigs
To commemorate the occasion, did the Orioles tie Ayala ribbon around the old oak tree?
I think that will only happen if he makes the The team and comes home to the bigs.
A decent signing if they have room for him and he’s healthy.
>Insert obligatory “ORIOLE PHYSICAL” joke here<
He was a bit of a rubber arm in 2012, and a good veteran presence in the clubhouse/bullpen. Well regarded by Buck.
It always seemed like they were trying to get rid of him the last time he was an oriole. Remember the Sun headline that we was available. Then he was shipped of to the braves for a guy we just dropped early this spring.