By MLB Baseball News

The Baltimore Orioles acquired Scott Feldman and backup catcher Steve Clevenger from the Cubs in exchange for reliever Pedro Strop, starter Jake Arrieta and international bonus slots Nos. 3 and 4.

Feldman, 30, gives the Orioles a reliable starting pitcher, some needed depth in their rotation and experience. He also removes some of the pressure to rush top prospect Kevin Gausman.

The rangy right-hander is 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA and has given up more than two earned runs just five times in 15 starts this season with the Cubs. He spent the previous eight years with the Texas Rangers and was a 17-game winner in 2009.

The Orioles lack able bodies in their starting rotation with Steve Johnson, Wei-Yin Chen and Dylan Bundy injured. Kevin Gausman has been unimpressive and veteran hurler Freddy Garcia was optioned to Triple-A last week.

Orioles' starters are currently at 27th n the league with a 4.79 ERA. However, Feldman can become a free agent at the end of the season.

But Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer was just excited to get two power arms in Stoop and Arrieta in exchange for Feldman.

Strop, 28, has struggled this season, going 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA in 29 relief appearances. The hardthrowing right-hander was Baltimore's primary setup man last season, when he posted a 2.44 ERA in 70 games.

Once considered a top prospect, the 27-year-old Arrieta went 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA in five starts this season. The right-hander owns a 5.46 ERA in 69 games -- 63 starts -- over parts of four seasons with Baltimore.

Hoyer said Carlos Villanueva, who started the season in the rotation, will be stretched out and might eventually end up taking Feldman's spot.

The Cubs later dealt reliever Carlos Marmol and international signing bonus slot No. 4 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Matt Guerrier. Chicago also dealt minor league infielder Ronald Torreyes to the Houston Astros for their second and third international signing bonus slots.

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Orioles Boost Rotation with Scott Feldman