Uehara finalizes contract with Orioles

$10 million, two-year contract.

The Associated Press
WFLS News

Date published: 1/14/2009

BALTIMORE (AP) - Right-hander Koji Uehara finalized a $10 million, two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, making him the first Japanese-born player in franchise history.

The 33-year-old Uehara agreed to terms last week and completed the contract after passing a physical. He gets $5 million a year and could make more in performance bonuses. If he makes 34 starts and pitches 200 innings in each season, he would earn $16 million.

Uehara comes to the Orioles after a 10-year run with the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League. He won Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young Award in 1999 and 2002.

Meanwhile, Baltimore avoided arbitration with former closer Chris Ray, agreeing to an $850,000, one-year deal. He missed the 2008 season while recovering from right elbow ligament reconstruction surgery.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Date published: 1/14/2009