The Orioles have claimed right-hander Vance Worley off waivers from the Pirates, according to a club announcement. Worley will join the Orioles' 40-man roster.
Baltimore is expected to be aggressive on the pitching market this offseason, with a few lottery tickets like Worley expected to be added as the team revamps its pitching staff. Worley posted a 4.02 ERA in 23 appearances (eight starts) for the Pirates in 2015 and spent some time in the minors after an excellent 2014 season in which he went 8-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts).
Worley has the ability to start or relieve for an Orioles' team that could lose Wei-Yin Chen, Darren O'Day and Brian Matusz to free agency this winter. Baltimore has Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Kevin Gausman slotted into what appears to be a weak rotation that is likely to undergo significant change before Opening Day.
In six major-league seasons with the Phillies (2010-2012), Twins (2013) and Pirates (2014-2015), Worley is the owner of a lifetime 31-28 record and 3.79 ERA in 104 appearances (81 starts). He has logged more than 100 innings in three of the past five seasons.