Tommy Hunter throws in the high 90s and has been a big part of the Orioles bullpen for the past three years. Junior Lake is an outfielder who has not distinguished himself in parts of three major league seasons.
So, why did the Orioles make this deal? Was it to save the approximately $1.6 million remaining of Hunter’s salary for this year, which would offset some of the $2 million or so that they will have to pay newly acquired outfielder Gerardo Parra for the final two months of the season?
That’s the way it looks, but there’s probably more to it than that.