Orioles acquire Joe Saunders

The Orioles have acquired pitcher Joe Saunders from the Diamondbacks in exchange for reliever Matt Lindstrom and a player to be named later. Saunders cleared trade waivers earlier this week, making him eligible to be traded to any team.

The Orioles made a strong push to acquire Joe Blanton from the Phillies but never wound up acquiring him. Saunders has $1.5 million owed to him for the remainder of the season, and is arbitration eligible for the 3rd time this winter. He has posted a career 4.17 ERA in eight MLB seasons with the Diamondbacks and Angels.

Lindstrom, acquired by Baltimore in last off-season's Jeremy Guthrie-Jason Hammel swap, has pitched well out of the bullpen this year. He has posted a 2.72 ERA in 34 appearances in 2012. He will earn $3.6 million this year, and has a club option worth $4 million for 2013.

Analysis: This is a nice trade for both sides. I've been saying all year that the Orioles need starting pitching depth to make a post-season run, and they've been trying to get pitchers all summer but haven't had any luck up to today. Saunders is a decent pitcher to have on your pitching staff. He is an innings-eater, and pitches to contact. I have a strong feeling that he'll get lit up in the American League, simply because he didn't have much success when he was with the Angels in the beginning of his career. As for the Diamondbacks, I'm surprised that they got Lindstrom in this deal. I remember Lindstrom when he was an up and coming prospect with the Mets. The guy throws 100 mph, and is a nice bullpen piece to have. He'll probably serve as the club's setup man and get non-tendered in the fall. He isn't worth $4 million. And finally, the player to be named later will not, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, be a top prospect. He will probably end up being a lower-level minor leaguer.