We study the interaction of vector mesons with the octet of stable baryons in the framework of the local hidden gauge formalism using a coupled channels unitary approach. We examine the scattering amplitudes and their poles, which can be associated to known J^P=1/2^-,3/2^- baryon resonances, in some cases, or give predictions in other ones. The formalism employed produces doublets of degenerate J^P=1/2^-,3/2^- states, a pattern which is observed experimentally in several cases. The findings of this work should also be useful to guide present experimental programs searching for new resonances, in particular in the strange sector where the current information is very poor.

21 pages, 4 figures