Orioles Acquire INF Omar Quintanilla From Mets
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles acquired infielder Omar Quintanilla from the New York Mets for cash on Friday.
Quintanilla was designated for assignment by the Mets on Tuesday when they activated outfielder Jason Bay from the disabled list.
Quintanilla, 30, batted .257 with a homer, four RBIs and a .350 on-base percentage in 29 games for New York this season. He was called up from Triple-A Buffalo and filled in admirably at shortstop while starter Ruben Tejada and a pair of backups were injured.
"He knew coming in what his job was, and that was to play as well as he could until Ruben came back, and he did," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "When I talked to him when we sent him out the other day, I told him: 'This team owes you a tremendous thank you for the job you did.' Not just because, hey, he was our last resort. That was not it. He came up and played as good as anybody we've had. So he has a lot to do with where we sit today."
Quintanilla is expected to join the Orioles on Saturday, and a corresponding roster move will be made. A .218 career hitter in 592 big league at-bats, he also has played for Colorado and Texas.
In another move, right-hander Brad Bergesen, designated for assignment by the Orioles on Wednesday, was claimed off waivers by Arizona. He has not pitched in the majors this season.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
