Orioles trade reliever Mike Baumann to Mariners for minor league catcher Blake Hunt

The Orioles acquired catcher Blake Hunt from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for right-hander Mike Baumann and minor league catcher Michael Pérez, the team announced Wednesday night.

Hunt, a 2017 second-round draft pick by the San Diego Padres, has a career slash line of .247/.327/.402 in seven minor league seasons. This year, the 25-year-old has slashed .293/.372/.533 — good for a .905 OPS — with four doubles, one triple, four home runs and 20 RBIs in 23 games with Triple-A Tacoma. He will now report to Triple-A Norfolk.

With the move, the Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players.

Hunt, a graduate of Mater Dei High School in California, was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a five-player trade that sent left-hander Blake Snell to the Padres on Dec. 29, 2020, before being traded to the Mariners for catcher Tatem Levins on Nov. 6. Hunt, ranked as the Mariners’ No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline, joins catchers Maverick Handley and David Bañuelos — the latter of whom made his MLB debut earlier this season — on the Tides’ roster.

Baumann was designated for assigment by the Orioles on Saturday to make room on their 26-man roster for starter Grayson Rodriguez, who was reinstated off the injured list. Baumann, a 28-year-old right-hander who is out of minor league options, made 17 relief appearances this season with Baltimore, going 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA. The 2017 third-round pick spent parts of four seasons with the Orioles, compiling a 13-5 record with a 4.45 ERA.

Pérez, 31, appeared in 21 games this season with Norfolk, slashing .221/.294/.325 with two doubles, two home runs and 13 RBIs. The seven-year veteran was signed to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training Dec. 30 but did not appear in a game with the Orioles.