Even Though No Big Splashes Were Made, The Orioles Got Better At The Trade Deadline.
The trade deadline has come and gone and don't look now but the Orioles got better. It wasn't by adding a top of the rotation ace (they did that in February) named Garrett Crochet or Tarik Skubal, it was by simply addressing the needs they had remaining. Bullpen help, starting help, right handed outfield. Check, check, and check. They addressed all of those areas and didn't really have to mortgage any of their BIG prospects. They got better while the other teams fighting for the top of the AL didn't really do much. They added a few pieces on Friday with new arms, and these pieces added today really help fill out this deadline for the O's.
The move by the Yankees to go get Jazz Chisholm was great, he's a perfect fit there and is an immediate spark plug. They added a bullpen piece.....and that's it. Boston added a bullpen piece, Houston traded a massive package for Kikuchi and that was really it and Cleveland only added Lane Thomas to the OF and an old Alex Cobb to the rotation. No one besides the Dodgers and Padres really went for it and that for sure is big for the O's. Jack Flaherty goes to LA and Tanner Scott takes his talents to San Diego, music to O's fans ears. Both New York and Boston should have and could have added more, they didn't and that is massive for the O's. But like I said earlier, the O's added some solid pieces and this looks like the group they're going to try and win a World Series with.
Trevor Rogers was the first move of the day that the O's made and it came at the cost of #5 prospect Connor Norby and YAK Legend and incredible Gauntlet Runner, Kyle Stowers. Seems like a hefty price for a struggling lefty pitcher with a 4.53 ERA and 1.528 WHIP but Rogers has seemed to find something and has pitched respectfully the last few weeks. He's also under control for next year as well, so he's controllable. The tag was so high because the Astros sent an absolutely loaded package to Toronto for Yusei Kikuchi, so every team who had a pitcher to sell was drooling and robbing the buyers blind. Market was insanely skewed and it royally fucked with these trades. Rogers is a piece of clay and someone that the O's think they can mold and tinker with. They can fix whatever has gone wrong, that is what they are banking on. They've done it a few times with pieces and it's worked so why the hell not? They couldn't keep sitting on these prospects, they have to play somewhere. So they got a guy who has it, they just need a find way to unlock it again. They think they can. He's a backend starter who forces Albert Suarez to the bullpen, which improves that. He's given up 3 runs of less in 7 of his last 8 starts so again, he's close to finding himself again. Pitching with the wall in left should help out Rogers as well, it's basically a 10th defender in the field. It sucks to lose 2 good pieces like Norby and Stowers but that's what the going rate was for starting pitching.
The exaggerated packages drove up the price for every pitcher out there and basically forced the O's to trade 2 guys that have MLB experience. Norby has struggled a little in his young career so far, batting under .200 but 2 home runs. He can give you versatility on defense and swings a power bat, he just had no room on the O's. Odd man out with Jackson Holliday rejoining the club,and All-Stars Gunnnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg in the infield as well. Studs as far as the eye can see. Norby will get plenty of playing time in Miami. Kyle Stowers will benefit heavily from this move too. Just like Norby, playing time was tough for Stowers to come by in Baltimore. Crowded outfield and he just didn't have a spot. Miami shipped off another outfielder so Stowers will get his reps. He has some wild sneaky power too, he'll play well for them.
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Seems like the White Sox were happy to get rid of often injured Eloy Jimenez. Their pregame show was literally cheering when the news came down, they really hated that guy. All it took from the Orioles was AAA pitcher Trey McGough. Pure salary dump by the White Sox and it's bad news for baseball if the Orioles are now taking on other teams salaries, times have changed! But the Orioles needed a right handed bat and boy did they get some power. Now who knows how he'll stay healthy, the guy is always hurt. He's only 27 but seems like he's been around forever. He'll DH for the O's and will likely not even bring his glove with him to Baltimore, only hitting .240 with 5 homers this season but again, that's only in 65 games because of injuries. It's a bit of a confusing move though, I get he can hit lefties and will fill that void left by Hays. Still young and maybe he needed a change of scenery. It did't cost the O's anything so if they really want to they can cut bait if he doesn't work. It's a move for specifically this year too. He has the power, we've seen it. So the wall shouldn't be an issue, him staying healthy is the only worry. He stays healthy and hits like 8-10 home runs? Sure, I'll take it. They needed a righty, they got it. He'll split ABs with guys like Ryan Mountcastle, Heston Kjerstad, Anthony Santander, Ryan O'Hearn and basically everyone who gets ABs at DH. Chicago fans owe me a gift basket for taking him off their hands.
Gregory Soto comes over to Baltimore as Mike Elias tries to fully rebuild the 2023 Phillies bullpen, that ended well. I do like this pick up though, Soto comes over for 2 minor leaguers in Seth Johnson and Moises Chace. Again, no real damage done there, for an established lefty arm you make that trade. A few bumpy appearances is the reason why he's got an inflated ERA at 4.08, you see his numbers recently as well. He's transformed into a very solid lefty arms and you can never have enough lefties in your pen. Especially when they're throwing 98. A very hard thrower and simply can get out lefties, .199 average and a OPS of .566. That will do, especially with how Brandon Hyde matches up out of the pen. And alongside his friend Seranthony Dominguez who can get out righties, they can be filthy. Two BIG, nasty arms added to this pen.
They made a few other minor trades, a minor league one and a PTBNL or cash for Austin Slater and Livan Soto from Cincy. Not going into those trades because….nah. Overall I think this is a B- trade deadline for the Birds. Like I said earlier, they added in the places they needed to. Bullpen, LH reliever, RH reliever, and right handed "OF" bat. They simply weren't going to go after Skubal or Crochet and give up Holliday, Hesto Kjerstad, Coby Mayo, or Samuel Basallo. They are better than they were last week and that is a big step forward. They're starting to show signs of life and are still a half game up on New York who is finding their groove now, this was a good haul for Mike Elias, added lots of depth. They got rid of guys who wouldn't play here and got MLB talent for them, you can't beat that. Lot of controllable guys as well, that means a ton for 2025, but also helps right now.
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The superstar move never happened and with the price tags these pitchers were commanding it's no surprise no one broke the bank for Skubal. They were never trading him, never. They addressed their needs and the teams they are fighting with can't really say the same fully. It wasn't the big name deadline everyone was promised by dozens of MLB reporters but they filled their biggest needs. Now they need their original core of guys to find it again, Gunnar, Adley, Cedric, Westy, follow the lead from Mounty, Tony and Cowser. Good vibes are back with this team and maybe this was the jolt they needed. Get back on track and let's get this thing going.