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Baltimore Orioles trade pitcher Brian Matusz, acquire Franderlin Romero

By Alex Butler
Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter is seen on the field during batting practice before his game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on April 20, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter is seen on the field during batting practice before his game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on April 20, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

BALTIMORE, May 23 (UPI) -- The first place Baltimore Orioles are making moves to stay on top.

Monday the Orioles traded left-handed pitcher Brian Matusz and competitive balance draft pick No. 76 to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for right hander Brandon Barker and lefty Trevor Belicek.

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Barker, 23, was 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA and 40 strikeouts in nine games in AA this season. He'll move from AA Mississippi to AA Bowie.

Belicek, 23, was 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 12 games at Class A Rome and AA Mississippi.

Matusz, 29, was the No. 4 pick in the 2008 amateur draft. He has a 4.85 career ERA, with 460 career strikeouts in 279 appearances. Matusz spent eight seasons with the Orioles. He is due $3.9 million this season and is a free agent in 2017.

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The Orioles also acquired Low-A righty Franderlin Romero from the Cincinnati Reds Monday night.

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