The Baltimore Orioles continued to gird up for a playoff run by acquiring outfielder/designated hitter Michael Morse from the Seattle Mariners on Friday in exchange for minor league outfielder Xavier Avery. Morse, 31, was placed on trade waivers and claimed by the Orioles on Wednesday, leaving Baltimore and Seattle 48 hours to strike a deal. Morse will be a free agent at the end of the season, so the Orioles are responsible for roughly $1.25 million of his remaining contract. Morse has been limited by injuries to 307 plate appearances this season and is batting .226 with 13 home runs and 27 RBIs. The right-handed hitter's best season was with the Washington Nationals in 2011, when he hit .303 with 31 homers and 95 RBIs. Avery, 23, has spent this year split between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk in the Orioles' farm system. The left-handed-hitting outfielder is 29-for-37 in steal attempts this season, and he is batting a combined .259 with 70 runs scored. Source: ESPN
