Baltimore Orioles: Yovani Gallardo restructured deal done

The Baltimore Orioles and Yovani Gallardo came to a restructured agreement last night for the RHP to join the Birds.

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, but it appears that the Baltimore Orioles have once again come to an agreement with RHP Yovani Gallardo. After questions about his shoulder popped up on his physical, Gallardo submitted to a follow-up exam which ended up clearing many of the Orioles’ questions. The contract was restructured to two years, $22 million, with a $2 million buyout at the end of the second year – or a $13 million club option.

Courtesy of Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

So the skeptics (towards the Orioles’ tactics on physicals) are going to ask why there was a need to restructure the deal if the follow-up cleared their questions. And maybe that’s a fair question. In reality, were the O’s just looking to knock down the price? Were they in effect going back on what they initially said?

Some are going to claim and believe that – and that’s their preogative. However I suspect that at the end of two years they’ll re-visit the issue with Gallardo’s shoulder. If he’s pitched well with the Orioles and his shoulder appears to be in good shape, I suspect they’ll pick up the option. If not, they’ll wish him well and send him on his way with his $2 million.

Live Feed

Milwaukee Brewers: 15 Greatest Pitchers in Franchise History /

Reviewing the Brew

Taking a look at the all-time Milwaukee Brewers team ... with a twistCall to the Pen

Brewers: Remembering 3 Players Who Led These Pitcher Hitting StatsReviewing the Brew

Brewers: Newest Wall of Honor Inductees Impact Felt TodayReviewing the Brew

Brewers: Gomez, Gallardo, & Rodriguez to be inducted into Wall of FameReviewing the Brew

Milwaukee Brewers: A history of recent Brewers no-hit bidsReviewing the Brew

It’s easy to point and say that the Orioles are being cheap or that they’re going back on their word. But first off, when something’s come up on one of their physicals (such as the Balfour situation), they’ve generally been right. However none of us will presumably ever know what it’s like to agree to pay someone that amount of money. So speaking for myself if I were entering into an agreement like that I’d want to have a reasonable assurance of the security of my investment.

Some folks have said that something like this damages a player and his reputation – and that might be a valid point. But business is business, folks. I might not disagree that perhaps teams shouldn’t even announce these deals until the physical itself is completed. However keep in mind that all it would take would be one reported who covers the beat to somehow find out that Yovani Gallardo is in town taking a physical, and suddenly the word’s out.