5:03PM: The trade is official, as per a Dodgers press release.
4:23PM: The Orioles are close to acquiring left-hander Vidal Nuno from the Dodgers in exchange for minor league right-hander Ryan Moseley, reports Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun.
If Baltimore does acquire Nuno, it would be the second trade involving the 29-year-old in the past three-plus months. The Dodgers previously sent catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Mariners in November for Nuno, who has three years of club control remaining and will make a paltry $1.125MM in 2017. The swingman would provide the Orioles someone with extensive experience as both a starter and reliever – something they lost when Vance Worley departed in free agency – and perhaps push out-of-options southpaw T.J. McFarland off their roster.
In stints with the Yankees, Diamondbacks and M’s, the soft-tossing Nuno has combined for 126 appearances (42 starts) of 4.02 ERA pitching with 7.38 K/9 against 2.32 BB/9. He has been particularly tough on left-handed hitters, having held them to a .217/.285/.356 line, while righties have slashed .270/.320/.479. Nuno’s currently coming off a two-year stretch in which he recorded a 3.66 ERA, 8.05 K/9 and 2.01 BB/9 over 147 2/3 innings, though he generated ground balls at just a 39.7 percent clip.
The Orioles will have to create 40-man roster space for Nuno, Encina notes, while Ken Gurnick of MLB.com tweets that dealing the pitcher will enable the Dodgers to open up a spot for newly signed outfielder Franklin Gutierrez. They’ll also pick up the 22-year-old Moseley, whom the Orioles selected in the eighth round of last June’s draft. Moseley disappointed in 2016 at Texas Tech, per Baseball America (subscription required/recommended), which lists a “power-reliever future” as the best-case scenario for the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder. Moseley debuted professionally in short-season ball last year and registered a 3.20 ERA, 8.24 K/9 and 4.12 BB/9 in 19 2/3 innings.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
OMG OMG OMG FIRST
For real though – a controllable lefty reliever who’s already put up one productive season and under control for another 3 years? Typical Duquette move, I’ll take it.
that’s ridiculous. He can’t even Pitch anymore.
The most recent picture available of him is when he was with Seattle and not dodgers. Is that a bad sign?
Well he was traded this offseason so he’s not going to have a Dodger picture lol.
Never mind he was with Seattle 3 months ago.
He’s never pitched for the Dodgers. Got him right after the season ended
I saw an interview of him and he seemed pretty excited to be a dodger. Well that sure was short lived
Just saw the guy BAL is sending was drafted last year. Nice return for someone who is being traded just to clear roster space
He was an 8th round draft choice. While he could certainly surprise, perspective wise it’s like a waiver wire pickup.
Seems like a decent pickup. A very serviceable pitcher that could make a good long relief.
He was horrible for the Yankees, Mariners and Dbacks. I can’t see him being any better in Baltimore.
Stupidest post I’ve seen on here in months. He’s been good with both the Mariners and Diamondbacks.
The O’s need LHP help and by the looks of his numbers this guy if very good against lefty hitters.
Yep another smart move by DD.
Can we get a scouting report on Ryan Mosley? Pitcher with good stuff in High A?
Nuno is not terrible but isn’t great either. He can give you sold innings in long relief or even in an emergency start.
Couldn’t he also work well situationally (vs. lefties)?
If El Nuno means that I don’t ever have to see TJ McFarland in an Orioles uniform again, it will go down as the trade of the century.
You might have gotten your wish lol, TJ McFarland DFAd
Vidal, so soon!?
The Dodgers got nobody for Ruiz and now they’ve flipped that nobody for another nobody.
Nothing to see here, move along.
We will gladly take back Nuno. He was very effective for us in certain situations, and was getting better the longer we had him. He was basically like our 2nd lefty. I was sad to see him go.
Look out World Series! Here we come! LOL