The Orioles tonight announced that they have acquired RHP Tommy Hunter and INF Chris Davis from the Texas Rangers in exchange for RHP Koji Uehara. Hunter, 25, is 23-13 with a 4.36 ERA (266.1IP, 129ER) and 151 strikeouts in 53 career games (44 starts) over parts of four seasons with Texas, including 13-4 with a 3.73 ERA (128.0IP, 53ER) and 68 strikeouts in 23 games (22 starts) in 2010. A Rangers' first round draft pick (54th overall selection) in the 2007 First Year Player Draft, Hunter went...

The Orioles announced after today's first game that they have optioned RHP Chris Tillman to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled LHP Zach Britton from Double-A Bowie. Britton will start the second game of today's doubleheader. Britton, 23, is 6-7 with a 4.05 ERA (104.1IP, 47ER) in 18 starts for the Orioles this season. Tillman, 23, started today against the Yankees in game one of the doubleheader and took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) in 4.1 innings. He went 3-3 with a 4.17 ERA...

The Orioles are getting close to a trade that would send first baseman Derrek Lee to the Pirates for a lower-level minor league player. They'd like to get it done before tomorrow. Either way, first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter are joining the Orioles in New York tomorrow. Hunter will take Koji Uehara's place on the roster. Davis would replace Lee if the Orioles can complete the deal with Pittsburgh. Nothing is finalized, but it's the next logical step after today's trade...

The Yankees scored 12 runs in the first inning of Game 2. Then they added those all-important tack-on runs. Their lead has grown to 16-1 as we head to the top of the sixth inning. Slightly awkward. Zach Britton allowed nine runs (six earned) and seven hits in one-third of an inning. Jason Berken gave up seven runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. Chris Jakubauskas allowed three hits in the fourth without a run scoring. Jakubauskas retired the side in order in the fifth. He's got my vote...

Did they really need to play both ends of this doubleheader? Zach Britton lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his last start with the Orioles, on July 8 in Boston, before they optioned him to Double-A Bowie. Tonight, he exited after retiring one batter. Britton was charged with seven earned runs (eight total) and six hits in Boston. He's allowed seven so far tonight in New York, and he leaves with runners on second and third and still only one out. The rookie surrendered seven hits and...

The Nationals acquired minor league shortstop Sammy Solis lived in the same dormitory as a freshman with Walters at the University of San Diego, and they spent three seasons as teammates on the Toreros. "Walters is a textbook player," Solis said. "He has got the build, the arm, the speed and the plate presence. Once he gains experience and is able to put it all together, he will be a big leaguer. It would be hard to find someone with better tools than him." The 6-foot-2, 195-lb.,...

Jim Duquette is a pretty well-respected guy in baseball circles. The former Orioles vice president of baseball operations from late 2005 through 2007 said the Orioles got very good value in return from Texas for Koji Uehara with the acquisitions of Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter. "I think the value is great," Duquette said. "I was surprised. I have called a couple of scouts in the industry checking on what they are hearing (about deadline deals) and it was three different scouts I spoke with...

Mark Reynolds is starting at first base in Game 2 of today's doubleheader. Let the speculation continue. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 1B Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Josh Bell 3B Robert Andino 2B Zach Britton LHP It's obvious that the Orioles are trying to move Lee to another team, and they must be close if he's not in the lineup. They'll gladly take the salary relief, as well as free up a spot for Chris...

Acquiring a young pitcher and a young first baseman that have already had some major league success for Koji Uehara looks like possibly a great trade at this point for the Orioles. The O's acquired pitcher Tommy Hunter and Chris Davis for Uehara, who heads to the Rangers. The sides have reached an agreement on the deal, first reported by The Baltimore Sun, but it has not yet officially been announced. I'm looking for the downside and having a hard time finding any right now, but this news...

The Orioles have reached agreement with the Rangers on a trade that would send reliever Koji Uehara to Texas for first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter, according to multiple sources. Uehara is 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 43 games, with only 25 hits allowed, eight walks and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings. He hasn't allowed a run in 10 appearances this month covering 11 innings, with four hits, one walk and 15 strikeouts. Uehara is 12 appearances shy of having his $4 million vesting...