Orioles agree to terms with Grant Balfour
The Baltimore Orioles have made their biggest splash in free agency so far by agreeing to terms with Grant Balfour according to Roch Kubatko. The deal is for two years and around $14 million dollars. Balfour is a 35-year-old closer who had 38 saves last season and a 2.59 era.
Balfour will replace Jim Johnson as the Orioles closer but I think Tommy Hunter will also get a good amount of save opportunities. Balfour has been a good pitcher his entire career with a 3.27 career era and has become a closer the past two seasons.
It is a solid pickup for the Orioles who have lost a few free agents and have had fans wondering what they are doing with the salary. Balfour is a cheaper but older option to Johnson and Balfour did have a better era last season. This could be an improvement.
As every deal it will not be finalized until Balfour passes his physical.
Here is the tweet from Roch Kubatko.
Balfour deal with #orioles: 2 years, $14 million with $500,000 deferred each year. Per source.
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) December 17, 2013
