Jamie Walker is not officially a Baltimore Oriole yet. Assuming that he passes an upcoming physcial though he will be, at which time he will instantly become the team’s best reliever not named Chris Ray.

Walker, a 35-year-old, left-handed reliever with seven years of big league experience, has been a Detroit Tiger for each of the last five seasons. Walker hasn’t made fewer than 56 relief-appearances since way back in 1998, and the middle-reliever has appeared in at least 65 games three-times in the last four seasons. 

One of the more valubale members of Detroit’s elite bullpen last season, Walker pitched to a terrific 2.81 era and struck out four times as many batters as he walked. While terms of the deal haven’t been announced, it was reported today by ESPN that Walker inked a three-year deal with the O’s.

Walker will automatically become Baltimore’s most reliable middle-reliever. The Orioles’ bullpen was far from trust worthy with leads last season, one of an array of areas the team will look to improve on this offseason. 

Acquiring the one-time Royal was a no-brainer, and a move that Baltimore’s much maligned front office should be commended for.