BALTIMORE - The Orioles filled one of their most pressing needs Friday by obtaining left fielder Gerardo Parra from the Milwaukee Brewers for a minor league right-hander Zach Davies.

In a flurry of activity before the non-waiver trade deadline, Orioles vice-president of baseball operations Dan Duquette also dealt right-handed reliever Tommy Hunter to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Junior Lake and designated struggling starter Bud Norris and first baseman Chris Parmelee for assignment.

The 28-year-old Parra batted .328 with nine homers and 31 RBIs in 100 games this year. He's hitting .279 over 6-plus seasons, most of them with Arizona.

"I've always been a fan of his," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said of Parra. "The guy won a Gold Glove in left and right and is having a big year offensively. Plays the game like our fans like to see it played. He's really likes winning, so he should fit in well."

Left field has been a problem for the Orioles this season. Travis Snider is batting .239 with three homers and 20 RBIs, and Nolan Reimould has a .243 average with two home runs and seven RBIs in 28 games.

"We needed some help in the outfield. Everyone knew that," Baltimore closer Zach Britton said. "Adding him is good — a top-of-the-lineup kind of guy."

Parra will probably take over as Baltimore's leadoff hitter. Manny Machado has been filling that role, but he's more of a power hitter and will likely be dropped to second or third in the lineup.

Parra has played all three outfield positions and had a 14-game hitting streak through Thursday.

"We were able to make a couple of trades to help our team and try to get ready to get back to the playoffs," Duquette said. "We're real happy and excited that we were able to pick up Parra. He's one of the top hitters in the National League this year and he fits the profile of an every-day position player for us."

Machado was solid atop the order, but now the Orioles have a player who more adequately fits the description of a leadoff hitter.

"That's an ingredient that we've been missing," Duquette said.

Davies is 5-6 with a 2.84 ERA in 19 games with Triple-A Norfolk. He was assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

"That's one of deals that should work out well for both clubs," Showalter said. "We got a good player back and gave up a good pitching prospect."

Brewers manager Doug Melvin believes Davies has the potential to be part of the big league team's rotation next season.

"We felt that the level of this player was better than two players," Melvin said.

Baltimore cleared a roster spot for Parra by cutting ties with Norris and Parmelee.

After going 15-8 with a 3.65 ERA last season, Norris signed a one-year contract with the Orioles during the off-season. He gave up eight runs in his first start and never really righted himself before going on the disabled list with bronchitis. He ultimately landed in the bullpen as a long reliever.

Norris is 2-9 with a 7.06 ERA. He yielded four runs and six hits in 2 2-3 innings on Thursday night in Baltimore's 9-8 loss to Detroit.

"It got to a point where we couldn't continue down that road," Showalter said. "Bud needs a fresh start and will pitch well for whoever picks him up."

Parmelee was batting .216 with four home runs and nine RBIs in 32 games.

Late in the day, the Orioles unloaded Hunter, who was 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 39 games with Baltimore this season.

Baltimore filled the void in the bullpen by recalling right-hander Mychal Given from Double-A Bowie and right-hander Mike Wright from Triple-A Norfolk.

"Tommy Hunter is going to be a free agent at the end of the season," Duquette said. "The players that are going into the bullpen not only have talent but they can also do a very responsible job for the club in the future. We just thought this was an opportunity to make a little bit of a transition in the bullpen.

"Invariably, during our discussions with other teams, after Kevin Gausman, the two pitchers they wanted next were Mike Wright and Mychal Givens," Duquette said. "Other major league teams have identified them as ready for the big leagues. So now we're going to give them an opportunity."