advertisement

Orioles acquire Trumbo from Mariners

BALTIMORE (AP) - The Orioles hope to retain free agent first baseman Chris Davis. If they don't, they're hoping that Mark Trumbo will help make up for some of the lost power.

Baltimore acquired Trumbo and left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser from Seattle on Wednesday for catcher Steve Clevenger.

"The addition of a proven major league hitter like Mark Trumbo today lengthens our lineup, and it gives us another hitter in the lineup who can hit both left-handed and right-handed pitching and in Mark's case, he can hit the ball out of our ballpark," Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said.

The Orioles also got catcher Francisco Pena from Kansas City for cash.

Seattle acquired Riefenhauser from Tampa Bay to Seattle in a six-player trade. But the Mariners wanted to shed the salary of Trumbo, who made $6.9 million this year after winning in arbitration and is likely to earn about $9 million next season - his last before becoming eligible for free agency.

Trumbo hit .262 with 22 homers and 64 RBIs in 142 games this year with the Mariners and Arizona.

"It was not an ideal fit on our roster," new Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "The ability to bring in a left-handed hitting backup catcher created enough payroll relief and roster flexibility to be able to do some other things."

Baltimore will be the 29-year-old Trumbo's fourth team since 2013, when Dipoto traded him from the Los Angeles Angels to the Diamondbacks.

Trumbo averaged more than 30 home runs and 90 RBIs from 2011-13 with the Angels.

"I told Mark when we made the deal, 'Please do not take this the wrong way.' I like him quite a bit. He's a wonderful guy," Dipoto said. "I think he has a lot of skills that he brings to the table. It's difficult to trade away right-handed power."

Trumbo wasn't surprised by trade talk.

"I was aware that I was in the position that this might well happen," he said. "There were a few teams that were mentioned before, but to be honest, the Orioles weren't one that I had heard, at all."

Baltimore has holes at all the positions Trumbo plays - first base, right field, left field and designated hitter. Duquette said he will continue to look to fill those vacancies.

"This isn't the last move the team is going to make to put our team together for 2016," he said. "I can't tell you who we're going to sign in the future."

NOTE: Baltimore also agreed Wednesday to a $2.6 million, one-year contract with right-hander Vance Worley and a $1.3 million, one-year deal with outfielder Nolan Reimold, avoiding arbitration.

to sign in the future."

NOTE: Baltimore also agreed Wednesday night to a $1.3 million, one-year contract with outfielder Nolan Reimold, avoiding arbitration. Earlier in the day, they agreed to a $2.6 million, one-year contract with right-hander Vance Worley. Infielder Paul Janish, outfielder David Lough and right-hander Steve Johnson were not offered contracts and became free agents.

FILE - This Sept. 11, 2015 file photo shows Baltimore Orioles' Steve Clevenger watching his grand slam during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Baltimore. The Orioles have acquired outfielder/first baseman Mark Trumbo and left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser from the Seattle Mariners for Clevenger, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.