Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press
BALTIMORE - Adding another pair of relievers, the Baltimore Orioles reached preliminary agreements on a $10.5 million, three-year contract with Chad Bradford and a $900,000, one-year deal with Scott Williamson.
Each agreement was confirmed Tuesday by a person familiar with the negotiation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized.
Williamson, who can earn an additional $600,000 on performance bonuses, was scheduled to take a physical Tuesday.
The 30-year-old was 2-4 with a 5.72 ERA this year for the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs. He was NL Rookie of the Year in 1999 with Cincinnati, going 12-7 with 107 strikeouts, a 2.41 ERA and 19 saves.
Bradford, a 32-year-old sidearm thrower, was 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA this year with the New York Mets.
Baltimore has been making moves to strengthen a bullpen that was 19-25 with a 5.25 ERA and 35 saves in 56 opportunities. The Orioles agreed last week to a $12 million, three-year deal with left-hander Jamie Walker, then agreed Monday to a $19 million, three-year contract with reliever Danys Baez.
He was an All-Star with Tampa Bay in 2005, when he had 41 saves and a 2.86 ERA. The right-hander split last season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, going 5-6 with nine saves and a 4.53 ERA in 57 games.
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