The Orioles just traded a relief pitcher with an 8.10 ERA, Troy Patton, for a starting catcher, Nick Hundley, and cash. No seriously, you read that correct.
The O’s dealt their struggling lefty to the San Diego Padres for a 30-year-old backstop with seven years of big league experience. Hundley is a career .238/.296/.389 hitter.
We’ve heard in recent weeks that the Orioles were in the market for a catcher, but I assumed it would be for someone to back up Steve Clevenger and replace Caleb Joseph. Interestingly, Hundley is a starter, he’s played in 33 games this season and 114 in 2013.
Which makes me wonder: will Matt Wieters undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery — aka, Tommy John?
MASNSports.com’s Roch Kubatko reports that the Wieters still hopes to rehab his elbow injury and return this season. He received a platelet rich plasma injection on Monday and the Orioles announced that he won’t come off the disabled list when he’s eligible on May 26.
Pitchers commonly receive PRP injections in hopes of avoiding Tommy John surgery. Dylan Bundy immediately comes to mind.
It’s unfair to speculate as to whether Wieters will be back this season, but the acquisition of a starting catcher says a lot about how much Dan Duquette hopes to improve the Orioles production behind the dish.
You read that corrected? It that a joke?