The Cubs have acquired right-hander Tommy Hunter from the Orioles, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. ESPN’s Buster Olney adds that outfielder Junior Lake will go back to Baltimore in the deal.
[RELATED: Cubs Acquire Dan Haren]
Hunter, 29 this month, has a 3.63 ERA, 6.4 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 0.60 HR/9, and 46.3% groundball rate in 60 2/3 innings for the Orioles this year. Hunter joined the Orioles four years ago along with Chris Davis, in a trade with the Rangers for Koji Uehara. Since 2013, he has a 3.05 ERA in 191 2/3 innings out of the Orioles’ bullpen. He’s earning $4.65MM this year, and will become a free agent after the season. He’s the lone addition to a Cubs bullpen that includes Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Jason Motte, Justin Grimm, Rafael Soriano, and James Russell.
Lake, 25, has struggled in the Majors with a .241/.283/.380 career line. He has played well at Triple-A this year, with a .315/.404/.472 line in 231 plate appearances. Prior to the 2013 season, back when Lake was still an infield prospect, Baseball America said he had “tantalizing tools and inconsistent performance.” If Lake does become a useful big leaguer, he’ll be a late bloomer. He’s the second outfielder the Orioles acquired today, as they made a bigger splash earlier by acquiring Gerardo Parra from the Brewers.
As a Cubs and Orioles fan, I don’t like this deal.
why exactly?
As an O’s fan all I can say is WTF.
As an O’s fan I’m just shaking my head…
O’s weren’t going to sign hunter…….. so they got a OF for him.
That’s not it. This is about inevitable roster space they’ll need in a week or two. Not having any option-able guys, means dealing someone who might be leaving in a few months anyways.
That said, Hunter could get resigned. He’s liked by the club. It’s just a roster crunch.
Lake is hitting .315/.404/.472 at AAA this year. Not a bad move for the O’s to take a chance on Lake. He was not going to get any playing time in Chicago and Hunter is a rental. Good trade from both sides IMO.
Agreed.
If you’re questioning this move as an O’s fan, step back and gain a little perspective. First, the O’s bullpen was jammed with no (minor league) options. Second, Hunter’s a FA after the season and had some value to others — why not get a little something. Third, he’s no better than the fifth option out of the pen behind Britton, O’Day, Brach & Roe. Fourth, you get salary relief to help defray the cost of dumping Norris. Finally, you just gave the team the ability to rotate between Wilson, Wright, Drake, Givens and McFarland as needed throughout August.
They got a little nothing… It’s just a AAA depth move. I’m not going to knock it, but its not something to over analyze
Same old Cubs acquiring cheap garbage instead of trying to make a playoff push
The words “same old Cubs” and “playoff push” have rarely been uttered in Cubs history
Great move personally I think for the O’s. Lake is controlled through 2020 so he has plenty of time to develop, and we saved 1.5M erasing Tommy Hunter from the ‘pen that can certainly function without him, and he is a FA at the end of the season. And basically for the reasons that @Mister has already stated.
I liked junior lake. Is hunter even good.. I was really hoping Castro would be gone. It’s a real shame the cubs didn’t get hamels after claiming him off waivers last year.
As a Baltimore Orioles fan, I can tell you that Hunter is a reliable, 6th, 7th inning guy. He failed as a closer last season for the Orioles but still ended up with 14 saves. People think he gives up a HR every time he goes out, but he has only given up three this season in 42 plus innings and just seven in 100 innings since last year. And that’s in a good homer park, OPACY. His WHiP the past two years is right around one point one. He’s a good guy and a good reliever and as someone who was born in Baltimore but grew up on the northside of Chicago, I’m happy.
Why would you want to keep Junior Lake. He hasn’t proven anything.
Cubs got hung out to dry on the trade front. Maybe they can do something with waivers players.
lake came up an IF prospect, I always wondered why they didn’t try him in a super utility role. I hope he finds success in BAL.
Lake has tremendous upside, but he can’t get consistent playing time with the Cubs, and never has. That, IMO, is why his major league numbers are drastically different from his minor league.
If he can lock down a spot in the Orioles OF, (or even 3B) he will flourish.
I’m not sure the Cubs needed a 6th/7th inning guy. They’ve struggled late in games and needed a closer or a top setup man. I was hoping for Clippard or even the longshot of Kimbrel or Chapman… But Theo and Jed know better than me, let’s see if it was a good trade.
I don’t know…tremendous upside might be a stretch… Bit he needs a place to play regularly. Hes certainly worth maybe a non contender running out there to see what they have.