The Maryland Sports Blog

The Baltimore Orioles have signed Wilson Betemit to a two-year contract with a pending option, according to Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun. Betemit is an infielder who will most likely see action as a DH.  Betemit has primarily played at third base and shortstop.

Betemit is a career .269 hitter and is 30 years old. Betemit is not a power hitter, in nine major league seasons he only has 63 home runs. He will provide depth for the Orioles who who lack a stable DH.

Here is Encina’s tweet detailing the deal.

Wilson Betemit’s deal is worth $3 million over 2 years, could grow to $6 million w/ 2014 vesting option based on perf. incentives. #Orioles

— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) January 24, 2012

According to several reports, Anquan Boldin will be out the next few weeks with a torn meniscus. Boldin is one of the Ravens best receivers and has three touchdowns on the season. Boldin is a great possession receiver and uses his toughness and size to get extra yards after the catch. He has proven to be a tough football player throughout his career. Boldin came back from this hit after only a couple of weeks.

With Boldin out Lee Evans will most likely take Boldin’s spot on the field. LaQuan Williams might also become the number three receiver. Here are some tweets from Aaron Wilson that confirm the news.

Aaron Wilson has reported that Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb has suffered a toe injury and could miss a couple of games. Rookie first-round pick Jimmy Smith will likely start in Webb’s absence. I think Smith has played well recently, he has two interceptions.

Webb has played at a Pro Bowl level and has also returned punts for the Ravens. So far this season Webb has four interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble. Webb has also returned an interception for a touchdown and returned a punt for a touchdown. Here are Wilson’s tweets reporting the injury.

The Baltimore Ravens have released a press release announce a couple roster moves. Here is the release straight from the email.

The Baltimore Ravens placed LB Prescott Burgess on Injured Reserve (thigh) Tuesday afternoon.

Burgess, a sixth-round draft choice by Baltimore in 2007, has seen action in 40 career games. He sustained the injury this past Sunday in the win over Arizona. The 6-foot-3, 253-pounder appeared in three games with the Ravens this season, recording one assisted tackle and two special teams tackles.

In addition, the Ravens made two practice squad changes Tuesday, waiving S Mana Silva and re-signing WR Rodney Bradley.

Burgess was recently re-signed by the Ravens, that story can be found here. It will be interesting to see who the Ravens bring in to fill Burgess’s roster spot. The Ravens can opt to bring someone up from the practice squad or a free agent.

My guess is that the Ravens will bring in a free agent middle linebacker that was recently cut by a team. At this point in the season it will take any player a couple weeks to get up to football speed if they have not been on a team recently.


The Ravens are short on middle linebacker depth now that Burgess is on injured reserve. Dannell Ellerbe has missed time with a thigh injury, leaving Brendon Ayanbadejo as the only reserve middle linebacker.

Baltimore Ravens

Out


WR Lee Evans (ankle)
S Haruki Nakamura (knee)
WR David Reed (shoulder)
CB Jimmy Smith (ankle)

Doubtful

LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh)

Questionable

CB Chris Carr (thigh)
G Ben Grubbs (toe)

Probable

C Matt Birk (knee)
DE Cory Redding (toe)

New York Jets

Out

WR Logan Payne (wrist)

Questionable

OL Nick Mangold (ankle)

Probable

DL Mike DeVito (shoulder)
WR Santonio Holmes (shoulder)
LB David Harris (toe)
DB Antonio Cromartie (ribs)
DL Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder)
WR Plaixco Burress (hamstring)