Dodgers acquire rule 4 competitive balance draft pick, Ryan Webb and Brian Ward from Orioles
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the acquisition of a Rule 4 competitive balance round B draft pick (No. 74), right-handed pitcher Ryan Webb and minor league catcher Brian Ward from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league catcher Chris O'Brien and minor league pitcher Ben Rowen. Dodger President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman made the announcement.
Webb was 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 51 relief appearances for Baltimore last season and has appeared in 317 career games (all in relief) for the Padres (2009-10), Marlins (2011-13) and Orioles (2014). The 29-year-old Florida native was originally selected by the Oakland A's in the fourth round of the 2004 player draft. He will be added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster.
Ward, a Santa Monica native, appeared in 65 games (60 behind the plate) for Triple-A Norfolk last season, hitting .227 with two homers and 20 RBI.
O'Brien and Rowen were both invited to Spring Training this year as non-roster players. O'Brien was selected by the Dodgers in the 18th round of the 2011 player draft and Rowen was signed on Jan. 20.
With the acquisition of the Orioles' Rule 4 competitive balance pick, the Dodgers now hold four of the first 74 picks (No. 24, No. 35, No. 67 and No. 74) in the upcoming June player draft.