With spring training approaching and an arbitration case pending, the Orioles have traded starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies.
After leading the Baltimore rotation for the last five seasons, Guthrie has been dealt for starting pitcher Jason Hammel and reliever Matt Lindstrom, according to multiple outlets. Guthrie will reportedly sign a one-year contract with the Rockies before becoming a free agent following the 2012 season.
Guthrie is 47-65 with a 4.12 earned run average in eight seasons and threw 200 or more innings in each of the last three seasons for the Orioles’ starting rotation. The 32-year-old made three Opening Day starts for the Orioles despite leading the league in losses in two of the last three seasons. The veteran starter was reportedly seeking $10.25 million while the Orioles were offering $7.25 million in an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday.
Hammel is 29 years old and has posted a 34-45 record with a 4.99 ERA in six major league seasons. He made 87 starts in the last three seasons for the Rockies and pitched 170 or more innings in each of those seasons. He spent the first three years of his big-league career in Tampa Bay after being selected by the Rays in the 10th round of the 2002 amateur draft.
The 31-year-old Lindstrom has spent five seasons as a reliever with three different teams and has a career 3.81 ERA in 279 career innings. He has converted 45 saves in 59 opportunities, including 23 saves for the Houston Astros in 2010. He will likely find a late-inning role in the Orioles bullpen that includes Jim Johnson and Kevin Gregg as other end-of-game options.
Hammel will be under the organization’s control for two seasons before becoming eligible for free agency while the Orioles have a 2013 team option for Lindstrom.
To clear room on the 40-man roster for Hammel and Lindstrom, the Orioles will designate left-handed reliever Clay Rapada for assignment. Rapada had a 6.06 ERA in 32 appearances for the club in 2011.
