Orioles claim Brooks off waivers from Athletics

The Orioles have claimed right-hander Aaron Brooks off waivers from the Athletics in the latest pitching-related move from the club today.

Reliever Josh Lucas, optioned to Triple-A Norfolk last night, has been designated for assignment to create room for Brooks on the 40-man roster.

Brooks was 2-3 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.252 WHIP in 15 games this year, including six starts, and he could become an option for the rotation. He allowed 28 earned runs (29 total) and 49 hits in 50 1/3 innings with 14 walks and 43 strikeouts.

The Athletics kept Brooks, 29, in their rotation through April before moving him to the bullpen. He was restricted to two innings in his last five appearances and would need to be stretched out before the Orioles could consider him for future starting assignments.

Brooks was 2-3 with a 5.74 ERA and 1.340 WHIP over 31 1/3 innings in his starts. He's 5-8 with a 6.65 ERA and 1.514 WHIP in 33 career games, including 16 starts, since making his major league debut with the Royals in 2014.

Brooks didn't pitch in the majors in 2016-2017, due in part to a hip injury, and was limited to three relief appearances last summer, his first coming against the Orioles on Sept. 12 at Camden Yards. He retired all three batters faced with a strikeouts.

He's faced the Orioles twice this year, holding them to three runs and three hits in six innings on April 11 at Camden Yards and tossing two scoreless and hitless innings in relief in a 16-2 win on June 18 in Oakland.

The Orioles don't need to make a corresponding 25-man roster move until Brooks reports, which could be Sunday or immediately after the All-Star break. They just had to put him on the 40-man today.

Brooks remains a man on the move, with the Royals and Athletics trading him, the Brewers selecting him off waivers, and the A's purchasing his contract on Sept. 3, 2018. They designated him for assignment Wednesday while activating pitcher Blake Treinen.

Lucas lost his spot in the bullpen to David Hess, who was recalled this morning from Norfolk and now he's in limbo. The Orioles can try to trade him or pass him through waivers.

Lucas was activated from the injured list Tuesday and didn't appear in a game, his last outing with the Orioles coming on June 13.

Meanwhile, Asher Wojciechowski takes the mound Sunday instead of Gabriel Ynoa, who moves to the bullpen until the Orioles need another starter. The Orioles want to take another look at Wojciechowski.