masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBaseball’s circle of life has taken another spin, bringing Steve Pearce back to the Orioles.

The Orioles claimed Pearce off waivers from the Yankees today, reuniting him with a team that’s trying to catch one of his former teams in 2012.

There have been a few of them.

To review: Pearce signed with the Yankees as a free agent on March 29. The Orioles purchased him from the Yankees on June 2 before he could opt out of his contract. The Astros claimed Pearce off waivers from the Orioles on…Baseball’s circle of life has taken another spin, bringing Steve Pearce back to the Orioles.

The Orioles claimed Pearce off waivers from the Yankees today, reuniting him with a team that’s trying to catch one of his former teams in 2012.

There have been a few of them.

To review: Pearce signed with the Yankees as a free agent on March 29. The Orioles purchased him from the Yankees on June 2 before he could opt out of his contract. The Astros claimed Pearce off waivers from the Orioles on July 28. The Yankees purchased Pearce from the Astros on Aug. 27. And today, the Orioles claimed Pearce off waivers from the Yankees.

If I’m Pearce, I’m already looking into flights to Houston.

Pearce isn’t eligible for the postseason roster because he wasn’t in the organization by Aug. 31. The Orioles acquired him for outfield depth and as a possible right-handed designated hitter, with Lew Ford nursing a sore hip and LJ Hoes headed back to the instructional league after Sunday’s game.

Pearce batted .254/.321/.437 with four doubles, three homers and 14 RBIs in 28 games with the Orioles. He’s hitting .239/.328/.377 with eight doubles, one triple, four homers and 26 RBIs in 61 major league games this season.

The Orioles recalled pitcher Oliver Drake and put him on the 60-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis to make room for Pearce on the 40-man roster. Drake went 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts for Double-A Bowie.

Update: “We like Steve Pearce’s ability to hit left-handed pitching and contribute to the team,” executive vice president Dan Duquette said in a text message.

Pearce is batting .240 against left-handers and .238 against right-handers this season. He’s a career .266 hitter vs. lefties and .214 vs. rigthies.