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Baltimore Orioles Trade Tommy Hunter for Cubs OF Junior Lake

By Joe Serpico

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The Baltimore Orioles continued their day of reshaping the future of this team with the trade of Tommy Hunter to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for outfield prospect Junior Lake.

The Orioles have been trying to move Hunter for some time now, and landing a pretty good prospect in return is a good deal for Buck Showalter‘s bunch.

Hunter was 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 39 games for the Birds this season. He has been up and down for the O’s in his time in Baltimore, but his greatest strength was not walking opponents. Hunter has issued just 11 walks on the year and owns a 1.164 WHIP in relief appearances. He was acquired, as well as Chris Davis, in a 2011 trade for reliever Koji Uehara.

Right-hander Mike Wright has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Hunter in the bullpen.

Lake is a young outfield prospect at the age of 23 and was batting .315 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs at Triple-A Iowa. The Dominican outfielder has batted .241 over parts of three seasons with the Cubs, but will report to Norfolk.

The Orioles are hopeful that a change in scenery might do some good for Lake, who possess some power as well as base running ability. He does struggle a bit with plate discipline and is not a terrific defender either.

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In all, it’s a solid move for Baltimore as they land a decent prospect for a player that was likely to leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

Dan Duquette has always made moves since coming to Baltimore, and this isn’t the first time the Orioles have done work with the Cubs. They traded Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to Chicago in 2013 in exchange for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger. Arrieta and Strop have done well since moving out of Baltimore, and the O’s are hopeful they get some return with the addition of Lake.

It’s been quite the day for the Orioles. Gerardo Parra is now an Oriole and Bud Norris has been designated for assignment. There is still the possibility for additions during the waiver-claim period. The Orioles added Alejandro De Aza and Kelly Johnson last season during that period, and it’s certainly possible that they make similar moves down the road.

Now that the MLB trade deadline has passed, we generally know who is staying and going in Baltimore. Now it is time to make that run to the playoffs.

Next: Orioles Designate Bud Norris for Assignment

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