The Orioles tonight announced that they have acquired minor leaguers RHP BRANDON BARKER and LHP TREVOR BELICEK from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for LHP BRIAN MATUSZ and a Competitive Balance Round B pick (76thoverall) in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.
Barker, 23, went 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA (10 ER/45.0 IP) and 40 strikeouts in nine games (eight starts) with Double-A Mississippi this season. In 50 career minor league games (40 starts), Barker has gone 20-14 with a 3.08 ERA (78 ER/228.0 IP). He was named the Carolina Mudcats Pitcher of the Year by the Braves in 2015 after going 8-5 with a 3.00 ERA (32 ER/96.0 IP) in 17 starts with Class A-Advanced Carolina. Barker was originally selected by the Braves in the 16thround of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.
Belicek, 23, has gone 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA (7 ER/28.1 IP), while walking one and striking out 32 in 12 games between Class-A Rome and Double-A Mississippi this season. He led all Atlanta minor league starting pitchers with a 2.53 ERA (16 ER/57.0 IP) in 2015 between Class-A Danville and Class-A Rome. In 26 career minor league games (nine starts), Belicek has gone 8-0 with a 2.43 ERA (23 ER/85.1 IP), 13 walks, and 73 strikeouts. He was originally selected by the Braves in the 16th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.
Matusz, 29, pitched to a 12.00 ERA (8 ER/6.0 IP) in seven games with the Orioles this season. Over 279 career Major League games (68 starts), Matusz went 27-41 with a 4.85 ERA (283 ER/525.2 IP) and 460 strikeouts. He was originally selected by the Orioles in the first round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.