NEW YORK (Keynote USA) — Right-hander Mike Baumann and minor league catcher Michael Perez were acquired by the Seattle Mariners in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday for catcher Blake Hunt.
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Baumann, 28, was 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Orioles this season, striking out 16 and walking nine in 18 1/3 innings. He was designated for assignment Saturday when the Orioles activated right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from the 15-day disabled list.
Seattle added Baumann to the active roster before Thursday’s series finale against the Yankees in New York. To make room, right-handed reliever Cody Bolton (15 games, 4.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Baumann is 13-5 with a 4.45 ERA in four starts and 90 relief appearances in four seasons with the Orioles. He went 10-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 60 relief appearances last season.
The Mariners bullpen has been in need of arms with a couple of key relievers out due to injuries. Matt Brash, who led the MLB in appearances in 2023, has not pitched this year and is out at least until next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Fellow right-hander Gregory Santos, who was a notable trade acquisition by Seattle from the Chicago White Sox, is not expected to make his debut with the team until July as he recovers from a right latissimus dorsi strain that has come with multiple setbacks. .
The good news for Seattle is that its bullpen has needed to pitch just 150 1/3 innings this season, the fewest in MLB, thanks to a starting rotation that is third in baseball at 290 innings. However, the Mariners have increasingly relied on closer Andrés Muñoz, who has pitched 21 1/3 innings in 20 appearances, including six outings of more than one inning.
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Perez, 31, hit .221 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 21 games this year at Triple-A Norfolk. He is hitting .179 with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs in six seasons with Tampa Bay (2018-20), Pittsburgh (2021-22) and the New York Mets (2022-23).
Hunt, 25, is hitting .293 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 23 games this year in Triple-A.
Seattle Sports staff contributed to this post.
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