The Orioles acquired Kris Benson from the New York Mets for relief pitcher Jorge Julio and pitcher John Maine.  Julio was the closer for the O’s from ‘02-‘04 and compiled 83 saves but lost his job to B.J. Ryan last year.  Maybe this will show Miguel Tejada, the O’s are a little more serious about this upcoming season, picking up a solid #2, #3 pitcher for the rotation.

I’m assuming the Mets organization did not want to deal with the off-field distractions of Anna Benson, who had been in the tabloids and press of the New York media since Kris joined the Mets in mid 2004.  If you analyze this deal talent wise, the Orioles made out with the better player.  The Orioles will pick up the tab on Benson’s 7 million plus yearly salary, which prompted the starting pitcher market price to go up.  The Mets will fill the spot in the rotation with Aaron Heilman, who finally started to show his promise last season.