Orioles acquire reliever Thyago Vieira in trade with Brewers
A five-year major league veteran, Thyago Vieira has posted a 5.64 ERA in 22 1/3 innings with 25 strikeouts and 13 walks this season.
As injuries mount, the Orioles continue to reshape their pitching staff.
Baltimore acquired right-handed reliever Thyago Vieira and minor league right-hander Aneuris Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor league right-hander Garrett Stallings, the teams announced Saturday. Vieira (full name pronounced chee-AH-goh vee-AIR-uh) has not yet reported, while Rodriguez has been assigned to the Florida Complex League.
With the move, which comes on the heels of Baltimore placing starting pitchers Dean Kremer (right triceps strain) and John Means (left forearm strain) on the 15-day injured list and calling up relievers Dillon Tate and Nick Vespi, the Orioles filled their 40-man roster.
Vieira, 31, was designated for assignment Monday when Milwaukee called up right-hander Bradley Blalock to help fill a banged-up rotation that has churned through the most starters in the majors. A five-year major league veteran with the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox and Brewers, Vieira has posted a 5.64 ERA in 22 1/3 innings with 25 strikeouts and 13 walks this season. The hard-throwing righty averages 98 mph on his fastball and 97 mph on his sinker while frequently touching triple digits, but he’s also struggled with his command, walking 12.3% of the batters he’s faced this season. He’s also given up six home runs.
Vieira, who also spent time with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants from 2020 to 2022, is one of just five Brazilians to play in an MLB game and would become the first to do so for the Orioles. Originally signed as an international free agent by the Mariners on Sept. 21, 2010, out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Vieira has appeared in 41 career games since 2017, recording a 6.18 ERA with two saves.
Rodriguez, 19, has made three appearances (one start) in the Arizona Complex League this season while posting a 3.68 ERA with 15 strikeouts and four walks. This year is his first pitching in the United States after spending his first two professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League.
Stallings, 26, was a nonroster invitee to spring training and had spent the entire year with Triple-A Norfolk, going 0-1 with a 5.67 ERA in 11 games (four starts). The Orioles acquired him and minor league right-hander Jean Pinto from the Los Angeles Angels for infielder Jose Iglesias on Dec. 2, 2020.
It’s the second trade this week for the Orioles, who on Wednesday acquired catcher Blake Hunt from the Mariners in exchange for right-hander Mike Baumann and minor league catcher Michael Pérez.