Alfredo Simon Suspected of Murder

According to the AP, Oriole reliever Alfredo Simon is being sought by authorities in the Dominican Republic for murder.

The pitcher shot and killed 25-year-old Michel Castillo Almonte and wounded his 17-year-old brother during a New Year's Eve celebration in the northeast coastal town of Luperon, police said in a statement. No motive was disclosed. Simon is from the Dominican Republic, and police said he fled after the violence.


This does not bode well for Simon. Ugueth Urbina got charged with attempted murder in Venezeula in 2005 and is still serving a 14-year sentence.

It may seem trite but this is a baseball blog and I have to consider the baseball implications. Alfredo Simon, even in the best case scenario, will not be with the team at the beginning of the season and may never return. The Oriole bullpen now consists of Koji Uehara, Mike Gonzalez and Jim Johnson from last year. Jason Berken expects to return in time for Spring Training but is coming off a shoulder injury. Jeremy Accardo has been signed. The best case scenario still leaves the Orioles looking for two more arms. David Hernandez is gone, Kam Mickolio, the closest reliever to the majors in the organization is gone.

It's an open audition, folks. The O's should be inviting every reliever who says yes, major league or minor league, to Spring Training to fill the open spots in the bullpen.