"Dan Duquette made his first trade as executive vice president of the Orioles on Thursday, filling the club's vacant reserve catcher spot by adding defensive-minded backstop Taylor Teagarden from a familiar partner, the Texas Rangers' organization.

The Orioles acquired Teagarden, who spent most of last year at Triple-A Round Rock, for 21-year-old minor league right-hander Randy Henry and another minor leaguer. That player likely won't be announced until after next week's Rule 5 draft.

Teagarden, who turns 28 this month, is expected to serve as the primary backup to All-Star Matt Wieters, who had been the only catcher on the 40-man roster after reserve Craig Tatum was claimed on waivers by the Houston Astros this offseason.

Duquette said the Orioles would continue to look for catching depth at the major and minor league levels, but Teagarden is expected to be Wieters' big league backup.

Teagarden has hit .220 in 350 big league at-bats over parts of four seasons and is a career .262 hitter with a .376 on-base percentage as a minor leaguer. Duquette said Teagarden's defensive skills set him apart in comparison with what's available in the backup catchers' market. Offensively, Duquette said, he thinks Teagarden has enough power to be a competent fill-in for Wieters.

"He has an excellent ability to handle a pitching staff," Duquette said of Teagarden. "Pitchers like throwing to him, and he's very good at controlling the opposing team's running game."

Teagarden becomes the latest former Rangers player or farmhand added to the Orioles' roster within the past year, joining Chris Davis, Tommy Hunter, Pedro Strop, Zach Phillips, Darren O'Day, Clay Rapada and Willie Eyre.

"I know all those guys," Teagarden said. "I played with them either in the big leagues or at Triple-A, and it's a great group of guys. I am happy for all of them to have a chance to come to Baltimore and really have a chance to shine, and I'm happy to be a part of it.""