A logjam in the Baltimore Orioles bullpen paved the way for the Dodgers to potentially strengthen their relief corps on Thursday.

According to reports – although not yet confirmed by the Dodgers – Baltimore relief pitcher Ryan Webb is on his way to Los Angeles along with minor league catcher Brian Ward.

The Dodgers, according to reports, will send the Orioles minor leaguers Ben Rowen – who went to Palos Verdes High – and Charlie O’Brien.
Webb began the season on the Orioles active roster, but Baltimore’s deep bullpen and his shaky 3.83 ERA last year made him expendable. The Orioles designated Webb for assignment Monday before Opening Day.

Webb is in the final year of a two-year, $4.5 million contract. and is owned $2.75 million this year.

Ward is a 29-year-old catcher who reached Triple-A level last year after spending six seasons in the Orioles system.

The key, of course, is Webb, who should find a home in the Dodgers still-a-work-in-progress bullpen.

In parts of six seasons with the Orioles with the San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins and Orioles the 29-year-old right-hander has pitched in 317 games without making a start, compiling a 16-18 record with a 3.38 ERA and 1.352 WHIP.

His best year came in 2013 when he pitched in 66 games for the Marlins and posted a 2.91 ERA over 80.1 innings pitched.

Last season in Baltimore, WEbb went 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.257 WHIP in 51 appearances.

Ward, 29, was born in Santa Monica and attended Marina High in Huntington Beach.
He has played six seasons in the minor leagues, compiling a ,237 average with 15 home runs and 132 RBIs.

He split last season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. In 65 games with Norfolk, he hit .227 with two home runs and 20 RBIs, and threw out 19 of 39 base-stealers (32.7 percent).His best year came in 2013 when he pitched in 66 games for the Marlins and posted a 2.91 ERA over 80.1 innings pitched.