BALTIMORE-- The Orioles made their first big pitch to keep closer B.J. Ryan, offering the left-hander a three-year, $18 million deal, The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday.

The Sun reported that the team's offer is a big jump from what it put before Ryan in March. The paper said the Orioles offered him a three-year extension worth around $10 million back then. Ryan rejected that deal and went on to save 36 games this year.

Ryan had said he was hoping to get a deal done by the start of the season, but nothing came to fruition. He's now put himself out on the open market and traveled the last several days. Executive vice president Mike Flanagan said last week that the team will be pushing to bring Ryan back.

Ryan's been in Cleveland the past few days and talked with several other clubs. If Ryan rejects the Orioles and leaves Baltimore, it would leave the team without a closer on the roster.

The Orioles are looking at Chris Ray as a closer, but they don't know if now is the right time to put him in that role. Ray did well in setup and middle relief roles last year, but he's only 23 with about a half-season of experience.

The Orioles would otherwise turn to the open market to replace Ryan, with Ray probably having a chance to take the closer's role in 2007 or 2008.