masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDALLAS – Here is what Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said about infielder Ryan Flaherty, the player the Orioles selected from the Cubs organization today with the fourth pick in the Rule 5 draft:

“He’s got a good bat. He can play third base and second base. He’s a left-handed hitter and he has some power. He was a high draft pick (41st overall in 2008) which identifies his value and skills. He comes from a really top quality program, Vanderbilt,” Duquette said.

“We like…DALLAS – Here is what Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said about infielder Ryan Flaherty, the player the Orioles selected from the Cubs organization today with the fourth pick in the Rule 5 draft:

“He’s got a good bat. He can play third base and second base. He’s a left-handed hitter and he has some power. He was a high draft pick (41st overall in 2008) which identifies his value and skills. He comes from a really top quality program, Vanderbilt,” Duquette said.

“We like all those things about him and we think he’s got an opportunity to contribute to the major league team either at third or to support our efforts at second. He is very similar to Antonelli, except he is a left-handed hitter.

“We like him. We think he can be a contributing member of the team and, if you look at his track record, he’s been a productive player along the way and he’s a left-handed hitter with some power.”

Duquette said he was not ready yet to announce the player to be named later that will go from the Orioles to Texas in the trade for catcher Taylor Teagarden.

Flaherty last year, between Double-A and Triple-A, hit .280 with 31 doubles, three triples, 19 homers and 88 RBIs. He had a .478 slugging percentage and an .824 OPS. He is a 25-year-old lefty hitter that goes 6’3″ and 220 pounds. Last year he batted .305 at Double-A and .237 at Triple-A for the Cubs.

Also, it appears the Orioles have a trade or some trades coming much closer to fruition, so stay tuned.

Update: Jon Morosi of Foxsports is reporting that the Orioles have acquired pitcher Dana Eveland from the Dodgers.