Orioles designate Bud Norris for assignment (trade official)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

July 31, 2015, 8:52am

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The Orioles have designated pitcher Bud Norris for assignment to create room for outfielder Gerardo Parra on the 25-man roster.

The trade is official. Parra comes to Baltimore for Triple-A pitcher Zach Davies. The medicals checked out.

Norris allowed four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings last night to conclude a brutal 2015 season with the Orioles. He lost his spot in the rotation and didn't get on track as a reliever, finishing with a 2-9 record, 7.06 ERA and 1.643 WHIP in 18 games, including 11 starts.

The Orioles have been trying to trade Norris, a pending free agent, but interest has been sparse. He's making $8.8 million this season.

Removing Norris will allow the Orioles to bring up an optional reliever from the minors, the candidates including Norfolk's T.J. McFarland and Double-A Bowie's Mychal Givens.

Norris won a career-high 15 games last season and posted a career-low 3.65 ERA over 28 starts. He also won Game 3 of the American League Division Series to send the Orioles to the ALCS.

The Orioles will continue their attempts to find a trade partner for Norris. Meanwhile, they remain in talks with the Cubs regarding reliever Tommy Hunter.

Norris just tweeted the following:

Dear #Birdland, I'm sorry it got to this. 2014 was magical. I got sick and haven't been right since. Wish my teammates nothing but the best.