Orioles acquire Efren Navarro from Angels (with Duquette quote)

The Orioles acquired a left-handed hitting outfielder today in a trade with the Angels, obtaining Efren Navarro for cash considerations.

Outfielder L.J. Hoes was designated for assignment to create a spot on the 40-man roster.

Navarro, 29, hit .329/.380/.442 with 24 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 29 RBIs in 72 games with Triple-A Salt Lake in 2015. He batted .253/.295/.301 with four doubles and five RBIs in 54 games with the Angels.

Over nine minor league seasons, Navarro has hit .300/.365/.417 with 243 doubles, 19 triples, 48 home runs and 495 RBIs. The former 50th-round draft pick has produced averages of .326, .326 and .329 in his last three seasons at Salt Lake.

In 130 career major league games, Navarro has batted .246/.303/.324 with 15 doubles, one triple, one home run and 20 RBIs.

Navarro, who had one plate appearance for the Angels in the 2014 American League Division Series, is a corner outfielder who also can play first base.

The removal of Hoes from the 40-man roster comes as a surprise.

The Orioles acquired him from the Astros on Nov. 25 for cash considerations, bringing back a player they drafted in the third round in 2008. He's a popular figure in the clubhouse, with Adam Jones, Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop pushing for his return.

Hoes, 25, batted .295/.383/.400 in 99 games with Triple-A Fresno and .267/.313/.267 in eight games with the Astros last season.

Update: Navarro has a minor league option remaining.

"Navarro is a versatile player who is a capable hitter and very good first baseman," executive vice president Dan Duquette wrote in a text message.