The Baltimore Orioles doled out $42 million to enhance a bullpen that last season logged 25 losses, a 5.25 ERA and 20 blown saves. They paid $29.5 million to add Aubrey Huff and Jay Payton to a starting lineup that contained one .300 hitter.

If $51 million can buy 11 more victories than a year ago, Baltimore will end its club-record run of nine consecutive losing seasons - a viable goal for a team competing against New York, Boston and Toronto in the AL East.

The Orioles want more.

"Being .500 is nice," designated hitter Jay Gibbons said, "but you still go home in third or fourth place in this division. We're trying to...