Where there's a Will...

By Roch Kubatko

April 02, 2010, 10:24am

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I bet you thought I was going to say Will Ohman. According to a tweet (there's that word again) from FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi, the Orioles have signed left-handed reliever Will Startup to a minor league contract. No word on whether he'll receive a spring training invite, but I'd ship him in bubble wrap. Startup, 25, missed the entire 2008 season and most of 2009 with injuries - he reportedly underwent Tommy John surgery - but he's posted a 2.70 ERA in four minor league seasons. You can check out his stats right here. This article, which ran three days ago, indicates that Startup probably will be assigned to Double-A Bowie. (Ignore the part about the Orioles reporting to Fort Lauderdale for spring training. Somebody didn't get the memo.) The Padres released Startup, who attended the University of Georgia, three weeks ago. The Orioles watched him throw in Florida and signed him. They're still in the market for a left-handed specialist. His arrival doesn't change anything, since he's ticketed for the Eastern League.