The Orioles have signed 30-year old lefty starting pitcher Tsuyoshi Wade to a 2-year, $8.15 million dollar deal with an option for 2014. Wada started 26 games in Japan last year and he was 16-5 with a 1.51 WHIP. He started 207 games in his nine years in Japan and he was 107-61. He is a soft tossing lefty who will likely get a job in the rotation because of how much the Orioles are paying him. There is a risk here as Kei Igawa was also a soft tossing lefty from Japan who was terrible for the Yankees. This is a very high risk/high reward signing for the Orioles.

The Orioles have decided not to tender a contract to 27-year old lefty starter/reliever Jo-Jo Reyes for the 2012 season, making him a free agent. Reyes pitched in 9 games (5 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 2-3 with a 6.16 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. He pitched in 29 games (25 starts) for the Orioles & Blue Jays last year and he was 7-11 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Reyes has now pitched in 70 games (62 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 12-26 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. This is no loss for the Orioles.

The Orioles have decided not to tender a contract to 33-year old lefty swinging outfielder Luke Scott for the 2012 season. Scott played in 64 games for the Orioles last year and he was 46 for 209 (.220 avg, .703 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 9 homers, 22 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He played in 471 games in his four years with the Orioles and he was 411 of 1,580 (.260 avg, .826 OPS) with 222 runs scored, 84 homers, 236 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Scott should have no problem finding a new team and the Orioles hope that it won’t be a team from the A.L. East.

The Orioles have selected 25-year old lefty swinging IF/OF Ryan Flaherty from the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft earlier today. Flaherty played in 132 games in AA+AAA-ball for the Cubs last year and he was 133 of 475 (.280 avg, .824 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 19 homers, 88 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He has now played in 450 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 465 for 1,670 (.278 avg, .809 OPS) with 269 runs scored, 57 homers, 267 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Flaherty is going to have a really good chance of sticking with the Orioles due to his bat and versatility in the field. He came into last year as the Cubs’ #22 prospect according to Baseball America.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired 28-year old lefty starter/reliever Dana Eveland from the Dodgers for 24-year old righty swinging IF/OF Tyler Henson and 22-year old lefty starter/reliever Jarret Martin. Eveland pitched in 5 games (all starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has now pitched in 100 games (59 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 19-24 with 1 save, a 5.52 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. The Orioles will give Eveland a chance to win a job in the starting rotation next spring. Tyler Henson came into last season as the Orioles’ #22 prospect. Henson played in 123 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 111 of 449 (.247 avg, .634 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 3 homers, 36 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Jarret Martin pitched in 31 games (18 starts) in A-ball last year for the Orioles last year and he was 5-12 with 1 save, a 4.96 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.

UPDATE: (3/29/2012) - The Orioles have designated Dana Eveland for assignment.