Quick Hits: O's Stuff...

Well, we got Steve Trachsel. That signing was quick…

“Having learned earlier today that starting pitcher Kris Benson will likely have surgery for a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the Orioles have moved fast to fill the hole in the rotation, agreeing in principle to a deal with free agent pitcher Steve Trachsel, according to a baseball source.

The deal, which will pay the 36-year-old right-hander between $3 and $3.5 million, is pending a physical, which could happen as early as today, the source said. Trachsel has a 134-143 career record and a 4.28 ERA in 13 big league seasons.”

Trachsel is not bad, and he won 15 games in '06, but his ERA was a tad under 5. Do I think this is a good move? Well, he makes a decent 5^th starter, and there’s a lot worse out there than him. However, he only won 15 games because he had an all-world offense around him, and it yet remains to be seen what the revamped Orioles can do.

Overall, it’s a decent move to help out the team. It’s not like we are signing Russ Ortiz again.

I’d expect Hayden Penn and Garrett Olson to get a shot at the rotation.

Here’s the news from the Baltimore Sun about Kris Benson’s injury. Here’s coverage from the Washington Post and the Orioles.com website.

Roch Kubtako writes about the Kris Benson saga and he thinks the team would best be served getting a veteran pitcher.

From the Orioles.com website: Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday, and Spencer Fordin has an article about the Spring Workouts.

Mike Boehm on Orioles Magic opines about Baltimore being back on the road uniforms, and his take on the Kris Benson injury.

Camden Chat gives their take on the Kris Benson injury.