Two weeks after trading their closer to the A’s, the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with former A’s closer Grant Balfour on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the deal.
Balfour fills the vacancy left by the trade of closer Jim Johnson, who was dealt to Oakland because Baltimore didn’t want to pay him about $10 million a season. Johnson had 50 saves in each of the past two seasons.
Balfour, who turns 36 on Dec. 30, went 1-3 with 38 saves in 41 opportunities with Oakland last season.
