The trade of starting pitcher Alex Cobb and the signings of veteran right-hander Felix Hernández and left-hander Wade LeBlanc have drawn consideration this week, nevertheless it’s attainable the Orioles added a participant who may assist them in 2021.
For the primary time in govt vice chairman/basic supervisor Mike Elias’ tenure with the Orioles, he traded for a participant with some main league expertise, though the naked minimal.
Jahmai Jones, a 23-year-old second baseman who has performed the outfield, was the return within the Cobb deal to the Los Angeles Angels.
Jones, a right-handed hitter, was the Angels’ second-round draft alternative in 2015 and made a quick main league debut final yr, enjoying three video games and going 3-for-7 with an RBI.
Baseball America inserted Jones because the Orioles’ 16th-rated prospect. He joins two right-handed pitchers, Kyle Bradish (12) and Garrett Stallings (26), who had been additionally obtained from the Angels. Bradish was a part of the December 2019 four-pitcher haul for starter Dylan Bundy, and Stallings got here within the December 2020 deal for shortstop José Iglesias.
Jones hasn’t performed shortstop or third base however his expertise within the outfield may add to his worth as a attainable utility participant. With rosters apparently set at 26 gamers this season, the Orioles can have a four-man bench. In the event that they carry one utility infielder, it’s prone to be Pat Valaika, who has performed all 4 infield positions and performed in 52 of the 60 video games in 2020.
There’s additionally Ramón Urias, who performed shortstop and second base in a 10-game cameo final season; Rylan Bannon, who has performed second and third within the minors and has been added to the 40-man roster; and Richie Martin, who broke the hamate bone in his left hand and won’t see the sector till subsequent month, based on Elias. Martin missed all of final season due to a damaged bone in his proper wrist.
Martin, who’s a pure shortstop, will probably begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk. Ought to the Orioles commerce Freddy Galvis later within the season, Martin may step into that position.
Then there’s Stevie Wilkerson, who re-signed a minor league contract with the group after lacking final season due to a damaged finger. He, too, can play the outfield and infield.
Santander’s arbitration: Elias had his first arbitration case on Wednesday. Outfielder Anthony Santander, who was voted Most Helpful Oriole within the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, requested for $2.475 million; the Orioles’ supply was $2.1 million.
Santander, who’s in his first yr of arbitration eligibility, hit .261 with 11 dwelling runs and 32 RBIs in 37 video games. He suffered a season-ending proper indirect harm on September 4th.
The case, the Orioles’ first since reliever Brad Brach in 2017, was argued earlier than arbitrators Richard Bloch, Melinda Gordon and Frederic Horowitz.
Minor signings: Moreover Hernandez and LeBlanc, the Orioles signed infielders Malquin Canelo and Seth Mejias-Brean, and right-handed pitchers Dusten Knight, Konner Wade and Spenser Watkins to minor league offers.
Canelo, primarily a shortstop, spent eight seasons within the Phillies’ group. The 26-year-old was invited to main league camp by the Orioles final spring however was not part of the 60-man participant pool.
Mejias-Brean is a 29-year-old nook infielder with some skilled expertise at shortstop. He hit .233 with two dwelling runs and 5 RBIs in 14 video games with San Diego in 2019. Mejias-Brean has additionally hung out within the Cincinnati and Seattle organizations.
Knight, 30. spent six seasons within the San Francisco group,and a part of 2019 in Minnesota’s. He was 3-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 13 video games for the Atlantic League’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2019. Knight’s minor league document is 26-11 with a 3.06 ERA.
Wade, 29, was acquired by the Orioles in November 2017 from Colorado for worldwide bonus smoney however launched earlier than the beginning of the 2018 season. He’s 35-39 in six seasons within the Colorado and Boston organizations.
Watkins, 28, pitched six seasons within the Detroit chain with a 41-27 document and three.88 ERA.
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