Orioles acquire catcher Francisco Pena from Royals

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

December 02, 2015, 3:26pm

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The Orioles aren't done making moves tonight.

On the same day that they traded catcher Steve Clevenger, they acquired catcher Francisco Pena from the Royals for cash considerations.

Needing more room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated infielder Paul Janish for assignment. Janish was told earlier today that he would be non-tendered.

Pena, 26, batted .251/.305/.430 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs in 95 games this year with Triple-A Omaha. He posted a .274/.303/.522 slash line against left-handed pitching.

In 784 career minor league games, Pena has batted .238/.288/.378 with 80 home runs and 352 RBIs. He hit 27 home runs in 342 at-bats with Omaha in 2014.

Pena appeared in eight games with the Royals this summer, going 1-for-7 with three strikeouts. He appeared in one game in 2014 without collecting an at-bat.

The Mets signed Pena as an amateur free agent in 2006. He signed with the Royals in November 2013. Pena is the son of former major league catcher and current Yankees coach Tony Pena.

Pena, who bats from the right side, has thrown out 31 percent of runners attempting to steal in nine minor league seasons. He isn't eligible for arbitration until 2019.

"Pena is a solid addition to our roster," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "He gives us catching depth and should help our club in 2016."

Janish, 33, batted .286/.278/.371 with three doubles, three RBIs and four runs scored in 14 games with the Orioles in 2015. You know the rest if you read my last blog entry.

Is everyone keeping up here?