The Orioles announced that catcher Blake Hunt has been designated for assignment. The move opens a roster spot for right-hander Andrew Kittredge, who has now been officially signed to a one-year deal.
Hunt, 26, still hasn’t made his major league debut. Drafted by the Padres in 2017, he went to the Rays as part of the December 2020 trade that brought Blake Snell to San Diego. He had emerged as an intriguing prospect prior to that deal but his stock dropped after joining the Rays. In November of 2023, rather than add him to the roster to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft, the Rays traded him to the Mariners. The M’s gave him a roster spot but flipped him to the Orioles in May for Mike Baumann and Michael Pérez.
Around all those transactions, Hunt has generally produced middling offensive numbers in the minors. Over the past four years, he has a combined batting line of .231/.302/.395, which translates to an 82 WRC+. That includes a rough .218/.273/.364 line and 60 wRC+ in 2024.
After that performance, Hunt has lost his roster spot. The Orioles will now have a week to figure out what’s next for him, whether that’s a trade or a fate on the waiver wire. The waiver process takes 48 hours, so any trade would need to come together in the next five days.
Despite his down season at the plate, it’s possible some club takes a shot on him based on past prospect pedigree. Going into 2021, FanGraphs listed him just outside the top 100 on that year’s top prospects list. His stock has fallen since then but he still has a couple of option years, meaning he could be an intriguing depth option for a club with a roster spot and a plan for getting him back on track.
This is dangerously close to his brother Mike
Beat me to it!
Beat meat to it!
Swan – I just watched Porkys a couple weeks ago, such a funny movie even today.
Why not the master Baker instead?
I remember seeing him in Ft Wayne back pre-COVID and thinking he was going to be a good one. Then I saw him in camp for the Mariners last spring and thought he would be on a MLB roster somewhere in 2024. Now he is DFA by the Orioles. Preller, you see that. Bring him home. Padres need the catching depth and have room on the 40 man.
Might be a guy that just needs a chance
That .288 OBP against AAA pitching is pretty ugly.
He was horrible at Norfolk.
Can’t believe Bryan Baker is still on the 40 man though. Catching depth was more useful than this out of options bum.
Seriously! After the Rangers series I never wanted to see him again. Would love for Baker to be wearing a different uniform by Spring Training. I wouldn’t think Elias the sentimental type to keep him around for old time’s sake.
I don’t see why he’s still on the 40 man. He can’t be optioned and I can’t see him making the squad unless multiple pitchers go down.
Odd to me.
It was .346 in the Rays and Mariners system in 2023-2024 before the trade to the Orioles.
PF. other than 2023, he’s largely struggled in minors since the COVID year. Performance issues aside, he’s never had more than 376 PAs in a season (which was pre-COVID) and had fewer than 300 the past two seasons. He was dealing with a groin injury last season. Maybe that explains his decline and perhaps he can improve if healed, but he’s not trending in the right direction.
He is also not young enough to be considered a prospect anymore. As I said, I saw him pre-COVID as a Padres farm hand and then in the Mariners camp this past season. He seems to have all the tools needed, he just hasn’t been able to put it all together because of injuries or for whatever other reasons.
Still like to see him come back to Padres system. He has an option remaining so tuck him away in El Paso as depth.
If the padres added him I think it would be via minor league deal.
I think the padres are going to call up Salas sooner than people might expect given his last season in the minors. Found it interesting they had him at petco over the weekend catching for Roki (more playing catch). They may believe he is ready defensively and live with the bat.
He is on the Orioles 40 man, so it would be through DFA claim.
Salas will be a 2026 call up if he performs well at San Antonio in 2025. He has to hit first.
who’s their 3rd string catcher now with Pinto Bean also gone? Maverick still with the org? Sounds like a minor league contract with ST invite is about to happen due to 40 man carousel issues.
Looking at Hunts transaction history he has never been outrighted before. And since he has less than 3 years service time , he can’t refuse an outright if he clears waivers. The Orioles are probably gambling he clears waivers and they keep him in the organization. But he still has an option which increases his chances of getting claimed.
Yeah him and Pinto were okay. Seriously don’t understand not having a 3rd catcher on the 40 man with Basallo being another year away
I don’t really mind not having one on the 40 man but you need to have a guy on a minor league deal stashed away. Hopefully Hunt just clears.
Pinto was out of options though. Sanchez’s signing basically stuck a fork in Pinto in Baltimore.
I think Bañuelos is probably ahead of Maverick. FWIW, Basallo is projected on MLB’s prospect page to be called up at some point this year. The fact that he can play some 1B which could allow him some additional PAs could tip the scales his way if Adley or Sanchez get hurt and they decide to go with him. Not ideal since he hasn’t proven himself in AAA yet but it’s not absurdly rushed like Jackson Holiday was last year.
It has been a rough couple of days for catchers named Blake.
I’ve had it with all the Blake news from mainstream media.!
Somewhere Swihart sheds a tear.
gimme-a-Blake (in memory of Robert Blake)
Keep your eye on the sparrow. Or in this case the oriole.
Obviously this means Robinson Cherinos was added to the coaching staff to teach Ramon Urias to be the 3rd Catcher! 🙂
I’d love to see that. Super Utility Guy.
If that were actually possible, it would add tremendous value to Urias.
He was a great addition to the Friars. Best of luck, Donnie
When drafted it was supposed to have some pop but it never translated
First Round Picks always land in other orgs.