Joe Saunders to Orioles: Diamondbacks Trade Veteran Pitcher to Baltimore

Looking to solidify the pitching staff on a push to acquire a wild-card berth, the Baltimore Orioles have acquired starting pitcher Joe Saunders from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Orioles' official Twitter account tweeted the details of the trade on Sunday afternoon:

"

The Orioles have acquired LHP Joe Saunders & cash from Arizona for RHP Matt Lindstrom & a player to be named later.

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 26, 2012"

Saunders is 6-10 with a 4.22 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 130 innings this season. On an Orioles team that is 18th in ERA (4.11), 27th in quality starts (58), 21st in WHIP (1.33) and 21st in batting average against (.259), an upgrade in the staff was needed.

Whether or not Saunders represents that upgrade after a rocky season remains to be seen. His experience pitching in a playoff push or in the postseason (2008 and 2009 for the Los Angeles Angels, 2011 with the Diamondbacks) is a plus for the Orioles.

For the Diamondbacks, landing Lindstrom gives them some help in the bullpen. Lindstrom is 1-0 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.

It may not be the earth-shattering type of blockbuster we saw between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, but it's the sort of small move that could help the Orioles reach the postseason.

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