News
O's claim Tatum off waivers from Reds
Lefty Waters designated for assignment to make room
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
11/20/09 3:53 PM EST
The Orioles on Friday claimed catcher Craig Tatum off waivers from the Reds. In order to make room for Tatum on the 40-man roster, they in turn designated left-hander Chris Waters for assignment.
Tatum, 26, batted .239 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 64 games for Triple-A Louisville this past season. He also appeared in 26 games for Cincinnati, batting .162 (11-for-68) with a homer and six RBIs.
A third-round Draft pick in 2004, Tatum was rated the best defensive catcher in the Reds' Minor League system in '08 by Baseball America.
Waters, 29, appeared in five games (one start) for the Orioles in 2009, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. In 29 games (20 starts) for Triple-A Norfolk, he posted a 9-7 record with a 4.49 ERA.
Waters was originally drafted in the fifth round by the Braves in 2000, then opted for Minor League free agency and was signed to a Minor League contract by the O's before the '07 season.
In 10 Minor League seasons, Waters has a 4.07 ERA. In 16 career games in the big leagues, his ERA sits at 5.07.
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
