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Orioles sign 40-year-old Tomo Ohka to minor-league deal

Charles W Luzie / Reuters

Tomo Ohka just can't quit the game he loves.

Now a knuckleball pitcher, Ohka - who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2009 and last appeared in the independent leagues three years ago - signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

"(Ohka is a) veteran pitcher with excellent control worth considering for the O's," general manager Dan Duquette told Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com.

The 40-year-old first came to the majors from Japan in 1999, when he was signed by the Boston Red Sox, whose GM at the time just so happened to be Duquette. Since then, he's compiled a 4.26 ERA and 590 strikeouts over 202 appearances with six teams, including the Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Montreal Expos. His last big-league action came with Cleveland seven years ago.

By signing with Baltimore, Ohka became one of just two former Expos players to still be active in professional baseball, joining Braves right-hander Bartolo Colon.

Since becoming a knuckleball pitcher in 2013, Ohka has spent time in his native Japan and then briefly in the Blue Jays' organization. His last appearance stateside came with the Atlantic League's Bridgeport Bluefish in 2014.

Baltimore also signed infielders Garabez Rosa and Sean Coyle, and outfielder Chris Dickerson, to minor-league contracts Thursday.

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