Orioles acquire Miguel Castro from Rockies and DFA Joe Gunkel

The Orioles made another trade for a pitcher this afternoon, acquiring right-hander Miguel Castro from the Rockies for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The usual price.

Pitcher Joe Gunkel was designated for assignment to create room for Castro, who's been optioned to Double-A Bowie, on the 40-man roster.

Castro, 22, was a key piece in the Troy Tulowitzki deal with the Blue Jays on July 28, 2015. He's 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA in 37 relief appearances in the majors and allowed 10 runs and 18 hits in 14 2/3 innings last year.

The Rockies designated Castro for assignment earlier this week to create a roster spot for left-hander Kyle Freeland. Castro is 22-13 with a 3.08 ERA in 82 minor league games, including 35 starts.

The Orioles also have acquired pitchers Edwin Jackson and Andrew Faulkner over the past few days. Jackson is at extended spring training and Faulkner was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

"It's something that's been going on," manager Buck Showalter said. "We're talking about controllable, optionable, not on the roster guys and all three are different. It's who we are and who we've been. That's a commodity that's a separator and we can acquire it. And it shows how much confidence Dan (Duquette) and all of us have in our player development system.

"I think our instructors down there are the best in baseball. And I feel real confident about the environment those guys are going to be put in. I think they'll be as good as they're capable of being.

"They all have dents in their armor, just like everybody does. Just trying to smooth some of those out while also giving great respect to the people who had them and tried to do the same thing. But let's face it, if they didn't have options we probably wouldn't be doing this."

Gunkel, 28, was added to the 40-man roster to protect him in the Rule 5 draft after going 8-14 with a 4.02 ERA in 28 starts between Bowie and Norfolk. However, he allowed three runs and seven hits over three innings in two spring training games and was an early cut.

Gunkel doesn't have a previous outright and would have to accept an assignment to the minors if he clears waivers.

The Orioles released outfielder-turned-pitcher Dariel Álvarez yesterday to make room for Faulkner, but they're still hoping to re-sign him to a minor league deal.

Chris Tillman is flying to Sarasota tonight and will throw live batting practice on Saturday. He's scheduled to pitch an extended spring training game on Tuesday and could make a second start in Sarasota before joining a minor league affiliate.