Wolf to be used in bullpen for O's playoff push
Wolf was 3-10 with a 5.69 ERA in 25 games -- including 24 starts -- for the Brewers this season, and he was released last week in the final year of a three-year, $29.75 million contract.
"This has been the most frustrating year of my career, because I'm probably throwing a slight bit harder than I was last year, I feel better physically than I did last year," Wolf said. "And I know my stuff isn't that much different. I think my location hasn't been as good.
"It's been a nightmare year, no doubt. To me, I look at going to Baltimore and going to a new team as maybe a silver lining in a nightmarish year. It's exciting to go to a new team and kind of have a rebirth and try to help out in a new role."
Wolf, a season removed from going 13-10 with a 3.69 ERA, has just five career relief appearances in 371 Major League games, but he said Friday he was aware of the role change and welcomed the idea of signing with Baltimore.
"It's different, but I think it's exciting," Wolf said. "A big part of my decision was coming here and helping the team, which I think has a great chance of winning. Being in the playoffs the past two out of three years, I realized that's what it's all about -- to play September baseball when it actually means something and every game's important. No matter what the role is, that's exciting."
Wolf joins Brian Matusz, another converted starter, as the lefties in the bullpen, and Matusz has made just two career relief outings to date.
"Everybody in this ballpark at some point was inexperienced, including me, so we think they're good options," Showalter said. "Both of them have the ability to pitch [with] some length, too, which is always good."
Wolf said the decision to pitch for the Orioles came together quickly as the 14-year veteran was excited about the possibility of pitching in a pennant race.
"That's one of the most exciting things about it -- to have that opportunity to help out a team in that situation," said Wolf, who is pitching in the American League for the first time in his career. "This is one of the teams that's the best team that nobody is talking about. In the mass media, you don't hear much about the Orioles. It's an exciting team. They're finding ways to win every day. It's pretty exciting to see a team that ... it's hard to really put your finger on what it is that makes them win, but as long as they win, that's all that matters."