A look at the Orioles prospects who were dealt at the trade deadline
We all knew it would happen. As the Orioles attempt to make a run for the World Series, the pieces that they need on the big league roster, whether it is a starter or a right-handed bat, would cost them some prospects and Minor League depth.
To us Minor League fans, they were our baby birds and our small-town community dudes. So while we knew that these were the necessary sacrafices, it still stings to see them go.
There were some names dealt at the trade deadline that you hated to see go, some that you were perhaps surprised to see go. Yet, so many remained untouched and safe within the orange boundaries of Birdland. Jackson Holliday and Samuel Basallo went no where. I thought names like Dylan Beavers and Jud Fabian would depart via trade, but they too remain safe.
Others ended up on the move. Here is a recap of who the Orioles ended up trading before the July 31 trade deadline and who they received in return.
LHP Trevor Rogers acquired from the Miami Marlins. Orioles trade...
UT Connor Norby: there was no way that Norby was going to play everyday with the Orioles, and he is too good to be in the Minor Leagues. Though Miami optioned him to Triple-A almost immediately, they are working with a middle to lower-half of the lineup piece who hits the ball very and for raw power.He is gaining defensive versatility and should have no problem working into the Marlins' everyday lineup before the end of this season, whether it be in the infield or the outfield.
OF Kyle Stowers: like Norby, Stowers had no direct everyday playing opportunies in Batimore. A former 2nd round pick, the left-handed hitting power threat had been frustratingly stuck in Triple-A but will now seek to mix in with the Marlins' outfield and prove his promise in a new home with a new opportunity.
OF Eloy Jimenez acquired from the Chicago White Sox. Orioles trade...
LHP Trey McGough: I was actually sad to see McGough go because I anticipated the Orioles giving him a shot out of the bullpen before the end of the year. You can never have too many effective late-inning lefty relievers around like McGough. he throws hard but with some of the finest command in the Minor Leagues, and he limits free damage including walks. Hopefully, the White Sox are smart enough to let him audition out of their bullpen because I always thought there was something special brewing with the lefty whom I saw as a 7th or 8th inning set-up clutch guy. I guess we'll never know here in Birdland, but ChiTown should count their blessings for who they just received.
LHP Gregory Soto acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies Orioles trade...
RHP Seth Johnson: swapping Soto, who was a disasterclass out of the Orioles' pen last night, for a hard-throwing right-hander who reached No. 9 on the Orioles' prospect rankings may come back to bite the Birds. Johnson was acquired in the 2022 Trey Mancini trade. This is his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, so the Phillies need to be aware of what the Baysox were doing which was monitoring his innings and pitch count. When he is on his A-game, he is sharp. He features a high-90s heater with a punch-'em-out changeup that helps him gather tons of swings and misses. He can be a bit wild, however, and the free bases are unfortunately a regular occurance in his game. Nonetheless, the Phillies should be excited about the potential rotation piece that they just acquired in an effort to dump some of the bullpen.
RHP Moices Chace: the Venezuelan-born righty is still young at 21 years, so there is plenty of room for development over the next few years. He is similar to Johnson in that he throws hard and garners tons of swings and misses, but he can be wild and will walk guys (5.2 BB/9 in 2024). Regardless, there is a lot to like in the looks of the young and rising Chace, and hopefully the Phillies organization can develop him fully into a reliable big league arm one day.
Minor League RHP Patrick Reilly acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Orioles trade...
UT Billy Cook: ugh, the one we all hated to see go. Perhaps the happiest, most outgoing and friendly human being in the system, Cook was a fan-favorite everywhere he went because of his energy on the field. The Pirates are getting ature professional hitter who studies hitting and is a multi-tool hitter himself, one who can adjust to pitches and work the field while also mashing a bomb pullside when necessary. He can also play anywhere defensively, and he holds down the fort well out there. The Pirates are getting a very durable and serviceable contributor and on a team where there are vacancies and questions to be answered, Cook can definitely step up and answer some of those questions. They are also getting a complete class act.
I wish all of these guys nothing but success and the best of luck in their next chapters in professional baseball.
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