Let's get physical with Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - While the Yovani Gallardo drama plays out, we're left to ponder the repercussions as they relate to the roster and the continuing perception that the Orioles' physical is harder to pass than a 10-lb. kidney stone.

A few pitchers expressed frustration over it yesterday. Guys were genuinely excited by the news that Gallardo agreed to terms. They didn't like having the rug pulled out from under them.

Not that the deal is dead as I post this blog entry. The Orioles are giving up their first draft pick for Gallardo and they're going over him with a fine-tooth comb. But they might fail him if their comb breaks the skin.

I kid, I kid.

Orioles fans must be flashing back to the winter of 2013. Reliever Grant Balfour failed his physical and the club was torched by the media and his agent and highly second-guessed by a couple of team physicians from outside the organization. And when I say "torched," imagine The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Balfour agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal before the Orioles backed out due to concerns over his right shoulder. The Rays signed him for $12 million over two years and released him in April 2015.

Balfour lost his closer's job with the Rays in 2014 while going 2-6 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.444 WHIP and 12 saves in 15 chances over 65 appearances. He averaged 5.9 walks per nine innings. Balfour allowed three runs and walked four batters in 4 1/3 innings over six appearances last year, and the Rays finally pulled the plug.

The Orioles agreed to terms with outfielder Tyler Colvin in January 2014, but concerns about a lower back injury caused them to change the offer to a minor league deal, which he refused. The Giants signed him to a minor league deal a month later and he batted .223/.268/.381 in 57 games, his last appearances in the majors.

No big loss, but another shot to the Orioles' reputation. Forget that they were right about Balfour and Colvin.

Concerns about right fielder Nick Markakis' MRI and pending disk surgery last winter caused the Orioles to pull their four-year, $40 million offer from the table. He signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Braves and batted .296/.370/.376 with three home runs in 156 games.

Going further back in Orioles medical history, pitchers Xavier Hernandez and Aaron Sele also failed physicals after agreeing to terms.

Hernandez was supposed to sign for $2.5 million over two years in December 1998 before his physical revealed a torn rotator cuff. The Astros signed him to a $750,000 contract, but he was done. The guy couldn't pitch, but he still could make money.

Hernandez filed a grievance against the Orioles. He also pocketed $1.75 million as part of a settlement that still irks ownership.

Teams are now reluctant to announce deals after reaching agreements. This is how the term "pending a physical" entered the baseball lexicon. Hernandez should receive another check in the mail each time it's used.

Sele agreed to a four-year, $29 million deal in the winter of 1999, but the Orioles tried to reduce it to two years after an MRI raised concerns about his shoulder. Sele signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Mariners, and general manager Pat Gillick said, "It was like a star falling out of the sky."

Other teams that employed Sele needed to be careful what they wished for.

Sele went 17-10 with a 4.51 ERA in 34 starts in 2000 and 15-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 33 starts (34 games) in 2001. However, he underwent shoulder surgery in October 2002 with the Angels and began the following season on the disabled list. He returned to the DL in 2004 with right shoulder fatigue.

Sele posted ERAs of 4.89, 5.77, 5.05, 5.66, 4.53 and 5.37 over his final six major league seasons with four clubs. His WHIPs were 1.494 in 160 innings, 1.586 in 121 2/3 innings, 1.621 in 132 innings, 1.621 in 116 innings, 1.452 in 103 1/3 innings and 1.845 in 53 2/3 innings - his final work coming strictly in relief.

In 2013, Sele received one vote for the Hall of Fame and dropped off the ballot. Not quite like a star falling from the sky.

Outfielder Jeromy Burnitz was on the verge of accepting a two-year, $12 million offer from the Orioles in 2006, but balked at the language in the contract related to his physical. He signed a $6 million deal with the Pirates that also included a $6 million mutual option and $700,000 buyout, batted .230/.289/.422 with 16 home runs in 111 games and retired.

Burnitz's agent, Howard Simon, felt that the contract language allowed the Orioles to delay completing the deal while perhaps shopping for another outfielder. Jim Duquette, the club's vice president of baseball operations, believed Burnitz simply had a change of heart. There were hard feelings on both sides.

Also, let's not forget Jair Jurrjens, who agreed to a one-year deal for $1.5 million in January 2013, with incentives that would have increased the value to $4 million, but settled for a minor league contract after the Orioles voiced their concerns about his physical. He allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings - one start, one relief appearance - and was designated for assignment on June 30 to make room for second baseman Brian Roberts.

Jurrjens made two starts with the Rockies in 2014 and allowed 11 runs and 20 hits in 9 1/3 innings. They released him on Aug. 27, 2015.