Orioles claim Austin Brice off waivers and DFA Breyvic Valera

The Orioles have added a right-handed reliever to their 40-man roster while subtracting a player who was set up to compete for a utility job in spring training.

Austin Brice has been claimed off waivers from the Angels, with infielder Breyvic Valera designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Brice, 26, is 2-4 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.262 WHIP in 70 relief appearances over the past three seasons. He registered a 5.79 ERA and 1.393 WHIP in 33 games with the Reds over the summer before the Angels claimed him on Nov. 2.

The Angels designated him for assignment on Dec. 29 after signing catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

Brice broke into the majors with the Marlins in 2016 and allowed 11 earned runs (12 total) with 14 strikeouts in 14 innings. He's armed with a mid-90s fastball and induces ground balls at a 51.3 percent rate, but he's also surrendered 17 home runs in 84 innings.

The minors have been much kinder to Brice, who's registered a 2.70 ERA and 1.144 WHIP in 53 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level. He was 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.071 WHIP over the summer in 17 games with Louisville.

Born in Hong Kong, Brice was drafted by the Marlins in the ninth round in 2010 out of Northwood (N.C.) High School. The Marlins included him in the January 2017 trade for pitcher Dan Straily.

Valera is the first of the 15 players acquired at the non-waiver deadline to, at least temporarily, leave the organization. He appeared in 12 games with the Orioles following the Manny Machado trade to the Dodgers and went 10-for-35 with a triple and four RBIs.

Former executive vice president Dan Duquette failed in previous attempts to obtain Valera before dealing Machado.

A fractured left index finger sustained on Sept. 23 at Yankee Stadium ended Valera's season as he tried to make a lasting impression heading into the winter. He slid head-first into catcher Gary Sánchez in the fifth inning and underwent X-rays that revealed the break.

Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias can attempt to trade Valera or get him through waivers.

The Orioles improved their middle infield depth by selecting Richie Martin in the Rule 5 draft and trading for Drew Jackson. They also claimed third baseman Rio Ruiz off waivers from the Braves at the Winter Meetings.

The 40-man roster also includes Steve Wilkerson, and Engelb Vielma cleared waivers and was outrighted on Nov. 27.