MLB Trade Rumors: Orioles Reliever Koji Uehara Among Those Available?

Baltimore took care of one potential free agent-to-be by signing shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year, $22.5 million extension. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun speculates that the Orioles will be shopping another player, setup man Koji Uehara, leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

Uehara has about a million dollars remaining on this year’s contract and his deal also includes a $4 million option for 2012 that vests with 55 appearances or 25 games finished. Right now he’s on pace for 70 appearances and 33 games finished, so any team that deals for Uehara would be doing so with an eye on keeping him for next season.

He didn’t draw a ton of interest as a free agent, primarily because of injury concerns and in part because of a limited track record as a reliever, but Uehara has been healthy and dominant this year with a 1.88 ERA, .150 opponents’ batting average, and 58:8 K:BB ratio in 44 innings.

Combined with his work out of the bullpen last season, the 36-year-old right-hander now has a 2.35 ERA, .187 opponents’ batting average, and 113:13 K:BB ratio in 88 career innings as a reliever. Adding to his value is the fact he has held left-handed hitters to a paltry .146/.222/.280 line this season.

If the Orioles make him available plenty of contending teams should be more than just a little bit interested.

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