Nick Hundley trade: Baltimore Orioles bring in another Wildcat

The San Diego Padres have traded Nick Hundley to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a relief pitcher in Troy Patton.

Hundley is just the latest University of Arizona product to join the Orioles organization. He'll join pitcher Preston Guilmet on the 40-man roster. Guilmet's been bouncing back and forth between the Bigs and Triple-A. When he's in Baltimore, it'll give the O's two of the three major leaguers that hail from Tucson.

Guilmet's yet to allow a hitter to reach base in four innings with the Big League club this season.

Last year, the Orioles also picked up both Nick Cunningham and Augey Bill in the late rounds of the MLB Draft. Both pitchers have not made minor league appearances this year. Guessing they're currently in extended Spring Training, waiting on short-season ball to start in about three weeks.

The O's also drafted Kyle Simon in the fourth round of the 2011 Draft, but he currently plays in the Phillies organization.

The four Wildcats that are now with the Orioles have all ended up there in less than a year. So either Baltimore recently added a scout who graduated from U of A, or it's all some sort of plot to take over the world one Wildcat at a time.

The Padres needed to move Nick Hundley though. They had three catchers on their Major League roster, giving manager Bud Black a lot less flexibility with his bench than normal teams. And the Orioles needed a catcher with their starter Matt Wieters currently on the DL with a strained right elbow.

Hundley has seen action in 33 games this year, resulting in 59 ABs. He is currently hitting .271 and slugging .373. As a Padres fan, I'm sort of sad to see him go, but it was needed on both sides.

And just like how U of A football fans have probably become Bears fans, baseball fans should start considering the Orioles.