O’s sign Will Ohman, will he make the roster?

I stated a few weeks ago that I thought the O’s could sign Will Ohman:

http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2010/01/projecting-orioles-opening-day-roster.html

It was announced yesterday, that the Orioles had signed Ohman to a Minor League deal. Even though I thought it was possible a few weeks ago, I was a bit surprised by the news.

The reason for that surprise, is that in the interim, the O’s had resigned Hendrickson. While Ohman was signed to a Minor League deal, he is going to get a hard-look to make the roster.

If both he and Hendrickson were to make the roster, that will have strong implications on the bullpen.

Will Ohman
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player…?playerId=4563
2009: 21 games, 12.1 innings, 12 hits, 8 er, 4 homers, 8 walks, 7 k’s
2008: 83 games, 58.2 innings, 51 hits, 24 er, 3 homers, 22 walks, 53 k’s, .636 OPS against

Obviously 2009 was a wash for Ohman, but if he is back to health, his 2008 stats give indication of what he could bring to the table.

Myself, if Ohman is to make the O’s, I would hope it would be in-place of Hendrickson, and not with him. However, with Hendrickson’s guaranteed contact; that is not going to happen.

Gonzalez, and Johnson are locks. Uehara is a lock if he is healthy enough. I am of the opinion that Hendrickson’s contact is going to lock him into a position.

Trembley said this week that Berken, and Hernandez will get a chance to compete to be the 5th starter, but that is basic lip-service. Unless Tillman looks completely loss, he will be the 5th starter, with Berken and Hernandez either making the bullpen, or going back to AAA.

So, essentially with Gonzalez / Johnson / Uehara / Hendrickson as locks, you are looking to fill 3 spots with the following players:

Berken
Hernandez
Ohman
Mickolio
Albers
Meredith

Even though Mickolio has the chance to be the best of the bunch, his available option seems likely to send him back to AAA. Meredith has had a rubber arm, which will make him somewhat attractive to Trembley, and the Front-office, but I prefer Albers.

Of this group, I would take Berken, Hernandez, and Albers. I have said it numerous times, but I believe adding Uehara, Berken, and Hernandez to the bullpen is a strength that should be taken advantage of.

If the O’s like what they see out of Ohman, and want him to join the team; they should consider eating Hendrickson’s contract. What I see happening, is that the O’s carry Ohman, and Hendrickson, with Berken or Hernandez going back to AAA. I am left to wonder what the benefit of that is?

I assume someone will say the obvious benefit is that Berken or Hernandez will be getting regular starts at AAA, and be just a call away if needed. With a secondary benefit that if they are starting (and performing at AAA) this could increase their possible trade-value. To me, if they were used properly out of the bullpen, they would already be existing on the roster if needed for a spot-start. Neither one of them project to regularly ever start for the Baltimore Orioles.

If one of the existing starters went down for any length of time, Arrieta represents the best option as a regular replacement.

Berken and Hernandez can both help the 2010 O’s, by being members of the bullpen, and getting an opportunity to pitch on a consistent basis. Groomed as starters, they should both have the arm strength necessary to make a lot of appearances, and give you quality innings.