The Orioles tried to acquire a veteran starter at the end of July.
A month later, they got their guy.
Baltimore traded for veteran lefty Joe Saunders, sending reliever Matt Lindstrom and a player to be named to Arizona in the swap. Arizona will pay a portion of Saunders’ $6 million contract.
Saunders — a free agent at year’s end — joins Wei-Yen Chen as solid lefties atop a rotation that is awaiting Jason Hammel’s return. The final two spots could go to lefty Zach Britton or righties Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Steve Johnson or Jake Arrieta — all of whom have held spots in the starting staff this season.
The deal invades the Orioles’ mighty bullpen, where Lindstrom had been a seventh-inning reliever for much of the year. He was considered a candidate to serve as Jim Johnson’s set-up man, but Pedro Strop has grasped that role in a breakout season.
It’s not the first time the Orioles have explored the addition of Saunders, who hails from Virginia. The club’s front office and Saunders’ agent had discussions over the winter, and the Orioles reportedly inquired about his availability in July.
He was 6-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts with the Diamondbacks this year. He has started four postseason games in his career, including in the 2011 National League Division Series and the 2009 American League Championship Series.